Haulier to operate gas-powered rigids

Nationwide freight and logistics operator Howard Tenens is set to operate the UK’s first pair of 26-tonne rigid-bodied gas-powered trucks as part of the government’s £20m Low Emission Freight and Logistics Trial.

As part of a consortium led by gas specialist Air Liquide, the haulier will use the government grant funding to purchase the two new Scania rigids, which will run entirely on biomethane produced from organic waste.

The trucks will operate out of the company’s depot in Swindon, Wilts, and will be used on a number of its major client contracts, such as Toolstation and Honda.

It isn’t the first time that Howard Tenens has been involved with gas-powered vehiucles, having previously operated 36 dual-fuel trucks as part of the Cenex Low Carbon Truck Trial.

Ben Morris, executive director at Howard Tenens, said, “Adding these new trucks to the Howard Tenens fleet seemed like a natural development in our ongoing journey to use gas vehicles.”

“These new vehicles will reduce carbon emissions by around 70% compared to a normal diesel engine and [are] the most viable option available to us for reducing our carbon footprint.”

A gas refuelling station will be installed at the haulier’s Swindon depot in order to deal with the infrastructure issues associated with the fuel, while local company Advanced Plasma Power has committed to producing the biomethane for the trial through sustainable production methods, including recycling household rubbish.

Not only does this process reduce the amount of waste that is sent to landfill in the local community, but it also generates a clean and sustainable fuel.

Rolf Stein, CEO at Advanced Plasma Power, said, “The biomethane project sets out with a goal to provide sustainable and low cost solutions to the challenges of decarbonising heating and transport.”