TNT Goes CNG

In Germany, TNT Express has a long track record of pioneering biodiesel use. Even so, spokesperson Immo Schulz admits that the first trials, between 1999 – 2004, were not very successful, due to the high cost of retrofitting the engines, problems with the vehicles’ warranties and issues with insurance. A story many others could relate to. There was also a string of technical problems, such as exploding engines and leaky gaskets.

Upsurge
More recently, however, improvements in CNG technology have seen an upsurge in confidence in the CNG option. Not least due to the failure of trials with electric vehicles where, although the technology itself is a success, the cost was found to be prohibitive.

“CNG is the only feasible alternative for TNT Express,” says Schulz. “It’s probably the most well-to-wheel CO2 efficient product in widespread use, regarded as a bridging technology to the hydrogen fuels of the future. It is also very versatile. The next step is biogas, which can be mixed with CNG and used in the same engines.”

Today, 27 out of 31 TNT Express branches in Germany run a total of 160 CNG vehicles. The four branches that don’t were the ones that suffered the most problems with previous CNG trials.

The CNG vehicles have a range of around 300 km. To achieve that range, Schulz says that there need to be at least two CNG filling stations within that area.

Optimistic
He admits that the CNG trials have not been 100 per cent successful, as evidenced by the four branches that still prefer not to operate any CNG vehicles at all. But he is optimistic about the future. The company’s first CNG vehicle in the Netherlands was launched in November 2007, with more planned. Furthermore, plans are already well underway in Germany to launch a biogas project in 2008.