Finnish Firms Switch to LNG Truck

Logistics firm NCS Finland and subcontractor Pinecape have started to use an LNG-fuelled vehicle, state utility and filling station operator Gasum said October 23. LNG in transport can reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the lifecycle of the fuel by more than 20% compared with diesel, it said, as well as the near elimination of particulates.

The EU’s ambitious emissions targets to curb climate change also create a challenge for logistics companies to reduce transport emissions. The emission targets require heavy-duty transport to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 15% by 2025 compared with 2019. NCS Finland and Pinecape are aiming to reduce emissions with LNG, Gasum said. NCS Finland carries more than 30,000 consignments each year. 

Pinecape started using a Volvo FH LNG tractor unit for transport in July. ”In long-distance transport you can drive as far as 1,000 km on a tankful of natural gas and fuel costs are lower than for diesel," Volvo said. "Nevertheless, there’s no need to compromise whatsoever on performance and torsion in a Volvo FH LNG-fuelled truck when compared with a similar diesel-fuelled vehicle. Demand for LNG-fuelled trucks is constantly growing."

The use of LNG can reduce greenhouse gas emissions originating over the life cycle of the fuel by more than 20% compared with fossil diesel. LNG produces less local and particulate emissions and so urban air quality does not suffer. In addition, LNG makes it possible in future to switch to liquefied biogas (LBG), which is similar in composition to LNG, but which can be made from household biowaste, food waste from retail outlets and municipal sewage sludge. The use of biogas in transport can reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the lifecycle of the fuel by up to 85% compared with diesel.