Scania trucks powered by bio-LNG gain momentum in the Nordics
Finnish company KuljetusLuokkala Oy has a truck and trailer combination that measures an impressive 31 meters and runs on biomethane. Now this vehicle has become the longest truck to drive 1,000 kilometers daily with bio-LNG and on a single refueling, a novelty in Finland, especially considering the harsh weather conditions in the north of the country.
With a fleet of 23 vehicles and 35–45 drivers, the company’s customers include Finnish dairy giant Valio and international textile services provider Lindström. It was in transports for Lindström that Luokkala found that the 31-meter combination would be advantageous. The typical transport day begins with loading in Oulu, the most populous city in northern Finland, for deliveries in Kemi and Rovaniemi before returning back to Oulu for another load. Then the truck heads south to Ylivieska before returning home – a combined distance of 980 km.
After a months of operation, Luokkala know that they still have 25–30% LNG left in the tank after the day. They have also been pleasantly surprised by the fuel consumption. “The truck uses 27–28 kg/100 km, which means that it consumes about 250–300 kg per day. We therefore count on recovering the added cost for the natural gas truck in three to four years,” said Juha and Matti Luokkala. “Our experience with the truck has been so positive that we may purchase more.”
Moreover, Swedish LBC Frakt, owned by independent haulers in Värmland County, has invested in the first bio-LNG Scania G 410 8×4 skiploader. The new truck will be deployed in expanding the rail infrastructure with a new passing track. The project is being commissioned by the Swedish Transport Administration, which has set clear CO2 emission limits.
“We know how the transport industry impacts climate change and although our own combined fleet of 250 trucks by and large meets the most stringent emission standards, we must start planning for how we are to meet society’s CO2 reduction targets for 2030 and 2050,” said Managing Director Lars Reinholdsson, LBC Frakt. “With the 90–95% reduction in carbon emissions through biogas, we will be in a good position to meet these demands.”
“Above all, we need to manifest the opportunities that renewable fuels offer as viable carbon reduction alternatives. All customers may not be willing to pay for the added costs but I truly believe that these soon will be widely be in demand and that will give us an edge,” he added.
