Hermes announces increase to its CNG fleet

Delivery specialist Hermes UK is adding a further 70 units to its fleet of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fuelled vehicles in a move to further reduce emissions.

Bringing the total number of CNG fuelled vehicles to 160 – half of the company’s core hub tractor fleet, Hermes’ use of alternative fuels makes it the largest UK parcel company fleet to employ CNG vehicles, bettered only by retailer John Lewis and Partners.

Each of the new model IVECO S-WAY units being introduced reduces CO2 emissions by over 80 per cent when compared to a Euro 6 diesel vehicle. This is a reduction of 150 tons of CO2 per vehicle and over 24,000 tons of CO2 across the 160 CNG vehicle fleet annually. Other benefits of the CNG vehicles include huge reductions in air pollution impact, such as 70 per cent less NOX, 99 per cent less particulate matter, 90 per cent less NMHC and 88 per cent less methane.

This follows Hermes’ recent announcement that it is one of the first companies to trial the IVECO Eurocargo, a new 12 tonne vehicle, which also runs on CNG.

The company currently uses an electric vehicle fleet for its Central London routes, so if the trial is successful the company will be able to have an alternative fuels vehicle option for all of its journeys, something that is in high demand from Hermes’ retail clients.

David Landy, Head of Fleet at Hermes, said: “Sustainability is a huge focus for us as we recognise our responsibility as one of the UK’s largest consumer delivery companies. We are committed to putting sustainability at the heart of every aspect of our business, through innovative products and processes. As such we were an early adopter of CNG as an alternative fuel and are continuing to increase its presence in our fleet, to drive down emissions.”