International logistics firm Arcese has taken delivery of a 6.5-tonne IVECO Daily Natural Power chassis cab, the first gas-powered light commercial vehicle to join its UK fleet. Its ultra-clean engine enables the company to make unrestricted deliveries to its luxury retail customers in central London.
Michele Nascetti, Country Manager at Arcese UK, says IVECO’s in-depth knowledge and expertise in gas vehicle technology was a key factor which led to the company placing the order, especially as most of its journeys end up in the city’s Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) – which comes into force next year.
He says: “Our drivers travel into London every day so we needed a manufacturer which could quickly supply gas-powered vehicles that already meet current and future emission standards. IVECO is a real leader in this market and showed us why the Daily Natural Power is perfect for our operations. We’re confident this addition to our UK fleet will play a key role for the next decade.”
Arcese’s European fleet already operates gas-powered IVECOs and Nascetti says the company’s close working relationship with the manufacturer also meant it was the preferred choice to help future-proof the UK fleet well past the Government’s challenging 2020 environmental targets.
He adds: “Our group’s strategy has always been focused on reducing emissions and that’s why we keep introducing alternative-fuel vehicles. IVECO is well placed to help our UK fleet begin to transition from diesel to gas as we continue to strive for greater sustainability levels.”
The Daily Natural Power is one of a number of models which now form part of IVECO’s International Van of the Year 2018–winning Daily Blue Power LCV range. It features a purpose-built 3.0-litre natural gas spark ignition engine which delivers performance comparable to diesel in terms of power, torque and response – including 136 hp and up to 350 Nm of torque between 1,500 and 2,730 rev/min.
It is also 50 per cent quieter than diesel, making it perfect for Arcese’s inner-city deliveries either early in the morning or late at night.
Running on compressed natural gas (CNG), the engine produces 12 per cent fewer NOx emissions, 76 per cent less particulate matter and up to 95 per cent less CO2 emissions when using bio-methane.
The engine requires no AdBlue, particulate filter or exhaust gas recirculation and needs no after-treatment system maintenance. Together with fuel costs around 20 per cent lower than diesel, this helps to reduce total cost of ownership (TCO) and boost fleet efficiency.
The Daily Natural Power is mounted with a box body built by Kira, which has a folding tail lift to help drivers make deliveries in tight urban streets and hanging rails inside to keep its cargo of predominantly fashion goods in perfect condition while in transit. A tracking system also helps to boost load security.
In operation five days a week, the vehicle will be based out of Arcese’s main UK depot in Tilbury, Essex.
IVECO has sold more than 25,000 alternative-fuel vans, trucks and buses to-date, making it a true partner for sustainable transport.
