Castle Donington-based Moran Logistics is adding 15 new compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks to its fleet to run on its Lidl contracts. The Scania trucks, supplied by dealer Keltruck, will go on the road over the next 12 months and build on an initial trial of two CNG trucks which went into service in 2021.
“The CNG vehicles are suited to the work we do with Lidl, based on the products we deliver, and the fuel infrastructure for filling up near Lidl locations is not an issue,” said Dean Roberts, General Manager at Moran Logistics. “We have a long-standing relationship with Scania, but still underwent a selection process to ensure we partnered with who we saw as the most suitable for our needs whilst supporting us to meet our sustainability target. This was supported by listening to recommendations from Lidl, as to how CNG fits in with both their roadmap and ours for using renewable energy.”
The CNG vehicles are solely used for refrigerated transport and have Ecogen fridges supplied by Hultsteins, a Swedish and British manufacturer specialising in diesel-free transport refrigeration. Ecogen is a truck-powered hydraulic generator powered via the engine drive PTO. When combined with a traditional transport refrigeration unit, the system becomes a clean (hybrid), electric-powered refrigeration unit.
“More customers are looking for their logistics partners to demonstrate they are taking responsibility for the elements under their control within the supply chain,” added Roberts. “At Moran Logistics we are committed to look for efficiencies throughout our entire operation, to help reduce our carbon footprint, whilst maintaining the highest delivery standards. Efficient, renewable energy vehicles support this green policy.”
