Dual-fuel tractors go on trial with hire fleet
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• Leasing Group is taking two dual-fuelled 4x2 tractive units— a Pet-Reg ERF EC and a Foden Alpha—for appraisal by potential buyers such as supermarkets and express parcel firms.
Both have Caterpillar's 380hp C12 LNG/diesel engine, Jake brake and Eaton S-Series gearbox. But before the units begin evaluation both will need further electronic mapping work, says Leasing's Roy James.
As these engines have normal injectors they cannot run on liquefied natural gas (LNG) alone but will work on a mix of up to 95% gas/5% diesel: the higher the load the greater the proportion of gas that is injected.
As a general rule the units will use the equivalent of two parts gas to one part diesel.
The vehicles start up on diesel, carry out a diagnostic check and then run on the mix. Should a problem arise the master ECU takes control and the engines revert to diesel.
Each unit carries 182 litres of diesel in one tank and 409 litres of LNG in the other—the equivalent of 2731it of diesel, says James.
For the moment such vehicles carry a £20,000 premium, but James says this will reduce as sales grow. The saving on gas could equate to £5,000 a year if the vehicle normally uses 45,000 litres of diesel.
That should be added to the £1,000 annual VED reduction offered by the Government for environmentally friendly FIGVs.
• Leasing is to supply Reading council with 11 gas powered Dennis Elite refuse collectors; all narrow-tracked 6x2 26-tonners.