IVECO has secured a major conquest order with Woodside Haulage, delivering a Stralis NP 4×2 tractor unit into service with the Irish transport specialist.
The vehicle stands out for running on compressed natural gas (CNG) and marks the first new IVECO to be purchased by the company for more than 15 years. Its entry into service follows the opening of the new Circle K CNG refuelling station at Dublin Port – with the vehicle to be used for general haulage duties in and around Dublin, operating from Woodside Haulage’s depot inside the port.
Supplied by local dealer Emerald Truck & Van, the Stralis NP (AS440S40T/P) offers significant sustainability advantages when compared to its diesel equivalent. As well as delivering the same performance in terms of payload, performance and versatility, the truck produces up to 99 per cent less particulate matter, 90 per cent less NO2 emissions and up to 15 per cent less CO2 emissions.
Woodside Haulage took delivery of the vehicle with support from Gas Networks Ireland, which at the time of ordering the vehicle had offered a Compressed Natural Gas Vehicle Fund, to promote natural gas as a transport fuel in Ireland.
Mark Woodside, Managing Director at Woodside Haulage, says: “We welcomed the initiative from IVECO and Gas Networks Ireland to promote CNG as an alternative fuel in Ireland. There is an expectation from many customers that we adopt innovative technology to reduce our environmental impact when we are transporting their goods. The new vehicle also enables us to achieve an important objective within our ISO 14001 environmental management system of using alternative fuels to further reduce emissions.”
Commenting on the route to acquiring the Stralis NP, he adds: “We met with IVECO and Emerald Truck & Van to discuss our options at an early stage as we were keen to understand the potential benefits of running a vehicle on natural gas. We view this as an important first step towards the further roll out of gas-powered vehicles within our fleet.”
The Stralis NP – billed by IVECO as the ‘TCO2 Champion’ – is powered by an 8.7-litre IVECO Cursor 9 Natural Gas engine which delivers the same output of 400 hp and 1,700 Nm torque as its diesel equivalent, resulting in an excellent power-to-weight ratio, power density and quietness of operation.
The Stralis NP features a 12-speed automated gearbox – guaranteeing lower fuel consumption and greater driving comfort. As the engine is compliant with Euro VI emission requirements and 50 per cent quieter than diesel, the truck is also ideal for night-time operations.
With the Stralis NP, Woodside Haulage drivers will also benefit from the premium Stralis Hi-Way cab, offering an internal height of close to 2m and more than 10m³ of space for maximum driver comfort.
Established as a family business 50 years ago, Woodside Haulage transports full and part loads from its sites in Ballyclare, Dublin and Preston.
IVECO has more than two decades of experience in the commercial vehicle natural gas market, making it a true partner for sustainable transport. It has delivered more than 25,000 gas-powered vans, trucks and buses into service since 1995.