France’s largest LNG-powered truck fleet unveiled in Essonne

XPO Logistics opened its new pallet distribution hub at Bondoufle (Essonne department) by unveiling a

fleet of Stralis Euro VI Natural Power trucks purchased from Industrial Vehicles Corporation (Iveco). The

vehicles, which run on LNG, comprise the largest natural gas-powered truck fleet of its kind in France.

XPO Logistics is the first transport provider in France to fully integrate natural gas into its standard

transportation offering, building on its long-standing commitment to reduce its carbon footprint.

The company took possession of 31 Stralis tractors from Iveco at the Bondoufle launch, expanding its

fleet of five natural gas tractors already in use in France. The Stralis tractors generate 96% less fine

particle emissions and 70% less NO2 emissions than the limits permitted by the Euro VI standard. In the

future, the company plans to operate Bondoufle exclusively with natural gas tractors and straight trucks,

and expects to introduce NGVs in other branches as well.

As a central hub in XPO Logistics’ distribution network in France, the Bondoufle branch will dispatch

pallet deliveries to central Paris and the southern Ile-de- France region, and will collect pallets from the

region destined for shipment throughout France. The Bondoufle fleet marks a new milestone in the

company’s commitment to reduce the carbon footprint of urban logistics, in line with the goals set by

major French and European cities.

Luis Angel Gomez, XPO Logistics managing director, transport solutions for Europe, said: “The Bondoufle

fleet investment is further proof of our focus on reducing our carbon footprint. In addition to serving

customers with the largest fleet in Europe, we now offer the cleanest fleet of heavy goods vehicles in

the market.”

Iveco chairman Pierre Lahutte said: “We are proud to have been chosen by XPO Logistics for this project

– one of the most important launches in Europe to date. It is the result of six successful months of trials,

during which XPO Logistics operated five Stralis LNG/CNG tractors extensively in northern France in a

simulation of future operations conducted from Bondoufle.”

NGS INDIA