IVECO, an Italian manufacturer of light, medium, and heavy-duty commercial vehicles and a division of CNH Industrial just released its first 44-tonne pure LNG (liquefied natural gas)-powered 6x2 tractor unit, the IVECO Stralis NP 460, which is ideally suited to regional and long-distance haulage applications in the UK.
Dawn Of A New Era
For IVECO, the era of the diesel engine is ending. The future requires sustainable commercial vehicles that can meet the efficiency and cost of ownership demands of UK’s transport and logistics customers. With the global launch of the IVECO Stralis NP 460 6x2 tractor unit, the future has arrived.
The launch event was hosted at one of Europe’s largest liquefied gas filling stations, Gasrec’s refuelling site at the Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal. Here, customers and dealers got an up-close look at the Stralis NP 460 6x2 three-axle tractor, available in both right-hand and left-hand drive models.
According to IVECO’s UK & Ireland business director, Stuart Webster, “Bringing this new vehicle to market is the culmination of our more than 20 years development of natural gas technology—packaged into a 6x2 tractor which can deliver a true competitive advantage for UK fleets on both regional and long-distance missions.”
LNG For The Long Haul
To handle same-day-out-and-back applications, IVECO outfitted the Stralis NP 460 6x2 with a series of LNG tanks situated on both sides of the chassis, giving the powerful tractor unit an impressive 750-kilometre range. IVECO engineers managed to fit the largest possible LNG tanks to the tractor unit, without requiring larger than 22.5-inch wheels on all three axles, making integrating this vehicle into existing fleets as painless as possible.
With this impressive range, it’s no wonder Adrian Pipe, chief quality officer for CNH Industrial, is feeling so positive about LNG’s prospects. “Gas is the most obvious replacement for diesel and that’s why we strive to offer ever more efficient vehicles that respect the environment.”
Other features of the Stralis NP 460 6x2 that customers are sure to appreciate include the 12.9-litre IVECO Cursor 13 NP engine that runs at an ultra-quiet 71 dB noise output, IVECO’s latest generation 12-speed Hi-Tronix automated transmission with support for GPS-based Hi-Cruise predictive cruise control and gear-shifting, and an Ecoswitch speed and torque limiter. The Stralis NP 460 6x2 is currently available from UK dealers, with demonstrators beginning trials starting in October 2018.
If you’re looking to buy nearly new IVECO trucks, visit TruckLocator to view a wide selection of available models, including used IVECO Stralis trucks.