LTB 541/17 – Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Motive Unit Trial at Chorley VOC
No. 541/2017
10 October 2017
Our Ref: V4/17
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Motive Unit Trial at Chorley VOC
To: All Branches with Royal Mail Group Members
Dear Colleagues,
LTBs 454/17 and 535/17 provided a full report and update to Branches and Area Safety Reps on Royal Mail Group’s Electric Vehicle plans as part of RMG’s continued commitment to trial vehicles that use low or zero-emission technology.
The Health, Safety & Environment Department has continued discussions with Royal Mail Group on various alternative fuel vehicles and environmental initiatives with Royal Mail Fleet, Royal Mail Programmes and the Royal Mail Group National Environment Manager.
We have agreed to support a short trial of a standard 340 bhp, Scania Motive/Tractor Unit converted to run on CNG by the CNG Fuels Company, instead of Diesel which offers environmental, emissions reductions benefits and fuel economy benefits.
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) (Biomethane stored at high pressure) is a fuel made from compressing natural gas to less than 1% of its standard atmospheric volume which can be used in place of Petrol, Diesel fuel and Propane/LPG. Nearly any Internal Combustion engine can be converted to run on compressed natural gas, and some manufacturers offer a hybrid version that can switch between CNG and Petrol or Diesel without any change in performance. The use of natural gas as a vehicle fuel isn’t new. The first Compressed Natural Gas Vehicle was patented in the US shortly after World War II and today the number of vehicles is estimated to have increased to over 15 million vehicles across the globe. CNG combustion produces fewer harmful pollutant gases than the standard fuels.
LTBs 454/17 and 535/17 comprehensively covered the following:-
- Vehicle Emissions Background:
Including the government’s Air Quality Plan, relevant EU Directives on pollution level targets, the 2008 Climate Change Act, introduction of Low Emission Zones, the 25 July government announcement that the UK is to ban all new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2040, the major risk to public health of current air quality standards in UK cities and government’s own figures showing that 40,000 annual air-pollution related deaths occur in the UK.
- Royal Mail Environment Policy and Electric Vehicles Plans:
Royal Mail Group’s environmental policy aims to minimise the environmental impact of the business operations, introduce a new suite of environmental standards in 2016-17
and align to ISO140001. The target is to reduce carbon emissions by 20 per cent, by 2020-21, compared with a 2004-05 baseline.
- Royal Mail Group’s Electric Vehicle Plans in Summary:
Which includes the introduction of 9 ‘Arrival Automotive’ (formerly ‘Charge Automotive’) manufactured Electric Vehicles at Mount Pleasant (3 x3.5t, 3 x 6t and 3 x 7.5t) and 100 Peugeot Partner LE2 Electric (CD) Vans arriving circa November/
December 2017.
- Partner L2 Electric Van Specification:
The RMG purchase agreement for 100 Peugeot Partner L2 Electric Vans represents one of the biggest single purchases of electric vehicles to be used commercially in the UK to date. The current plan is for the new electric delivery vans to go into service by December 2017.
- Safety Features:
- Fleet Technician and Driver Training:
- CWU ASR/WSR Involvement
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Gas Motive Unit Trial at Chorley VOC:
CNG Fuels, the UK’s leading owner and operator of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) refuelling infrastructure, who own the UK’s two highest capacity CNG stations, located in Leyland and Crewe have made available A Scania Motive Unit, converted to run on Compressed Natural Gas for Royal Mail to trial for a short period of 4 weeks from 9th October.
This vehicle is basically a standard Scania Motive Unit converted to run on CNG instead of Diesel with environmental, emissions reductions benefits and fuel economy benefits.
Royal Mail will use it with single deck trailer. It has standard Controls, a 300 mile range and will refuel at the Leyland gas station.
There are currently 65 of these similar CNG M/U trucks on the road being used and trialed by various UK companies and fleet operators, including John Lewis, Argos, DHL, Brit-European, Howard Tenens with a number of further companies planning to introduce Natural Gas vehicles to their fleets over the next 12 months. Of those currently being operated on UK roads, the Waitrose Supermarket chain have been running them for 9-12 months.
CNG Fuels are strongly promoting the Gas Fuelled Vehicle option and are offering out Trial Vehicles to big operators like RMG. CNG Fuels have plans to develop and grow their filling station network across the UK.
CNG is a safer option than other Gas fuels and as such is easier and safer to store and dispense.
The long term evaluation will be of interest as a CNG Truck is 50% more expensive than a standard Diesel and it’s on the basis of annual fuel savings that the manufacturers claim the costs will be recouped over 2/3 years.
However, the key thing to consider of course is the reduced Emissions levels and the much lower CO2 and NOx emissions.
The Scania Motive Unit converted to CNG is said to be no different to any other standard Scania 4×2 MU. It has a 300 mile range and will refuel at the Leyland gas station.
Full training will be provided to drivers operating the trial GNC fuel Motive Unit.
The Health, Safety & Environment Department fully support these trials which if successful, certainly help Royal Mail to significantly reduce the environmental impact of its fleet. The Health, Safety and Environment Department will continue to work with Royal Mail Logistics and
Royal Mail Fleet on this and other alternative fuel vehicle projects on the Safety and Environmental aspects and work systems and will support the Postal department.
The CWU Area Safety Rep will be fully involved in the trial. The Postal Dept will pick up any Operational/IR issues.
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
17LTB541 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Motive Unit Trial at Chorley VOC
CNG Fuels – HGV & Bus.compressed
