First gas-powered HGV with dual-fuel drive now in use at Gebrüder Weiss

”Sustainable commerce is a top priority at Siemens. This is reflected in our comprehensive environmental portfolio with which we help our customers to save CO2 and thereby protect the environment. Sustainability also plays a major role within the company. I am delighted with the successful cooperation with Gebrüder Weiss, which is giving Siemens the opportunity to put environmental and climate protection into practice,” said Wolfgang Hesoun, General Director of Siemens AG Österreich.

Environmentally friendly with high performance
In collaboration with project partner Salzburg AG, Gebrüder Weiss had the Volvo truck converted to a dual-fuel system by Infinite GmbH in Salzburg in just two weeks. Along with a diesel tank, the vehicle has two 150-litre gas tanks. This allows the environmentally friendly benefits of gas as a fuel to be combined with the efficiency of a diesel engine. Powered by an engine rated at 300 hp with a maximum torque of 1160 Nm, the HGV has a range of 300 km. However, the gas-powered diesel engine produces far less harmful emissions. On the basis of an annual distance of 50,000 km, this means a saving of around 27 tonnes of CO2 per year. In addition, nitrous gases in the exhaust are reduced by 67% and particle emissions are cut by 70%. The vehicle thereby meets Enhanced Environmentally-friendly Vehicle (EEV) requirements, presently the strictest harmful emission regulations for internal combustion engines.

Cooperation with Siemens
In Siemens AG Österreich, Gebrüder Weiss found the perfect partner for the ”Gas-powered HGV” project. They share the same understanding of sustainability, so when Gebrüder Weiss approached Siemens about using an HGV with dual-fuel technology for transport between their plants, the technology company was quick to respond positively.

In the view of Jürgen Bauer, Eastern Region Director at Gebrüder Weiss, it will be possible to put even more gas-powered HGVs on the road in the future: ”We plan to present this concept to other customers as a reference model for geographically similar business activities. Our basic objective now is to gain experience with this technology, so that we will be able to integrate further areas as technical advances are made in terms of horsepower and range. With regard to our goal of improving the eco-balance at Gebrüder Weiss, alternative energy drives will certainly remain an option”.

Pictures (source: Siemens AG Österreich)
Picture above: Niklas Nitsch, Head of Siemens CEE SCM Logistics, Josef Kinast, Head of Siemens CEE SCM (Supply Chain Management), Wolfgang Hesoun, General Director Siemens AG Österreich, Wolfgang Niessner, CEO Gebrüder Weiss, Jürgen Bauer, Regional Director East Gebrüder Weiss (from left)

Picture below: Jürgen Bauer, Regional Director East Gebrüder Weiss, Josef Kinast, Head of Siemens CEE SCM (Supply Chain Management), Wolfgang Niessner, CEO Gebrüder Weiss, Wolfgang Hesoun, General Director Siemens AG Österreich, Niklas Nitsch, Head of Siemens CEE SCM Logistics (from left)

About the Gebrüder Weiss Group
The Gebrüder Weiss Group with headquarters in Lauterach (Vorarlberg) has over 4,500 employees at 156 locations worldwide. The global network includes branches, facilities and sites in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Montenegro, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, India, the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, the USA and Canada.

About Siemens AG Österreich
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Österreich is one of the country's leading technology companies, with 8,664 employees as of 30 September 2010. Siemens employs around 15,000 people in Austria. In fiscal year 2010 the company booked orders of around 2.5 billion euros and turnover was around 2.4 billion euros (effective 30 September 2010). Business activities are focused on three sectors: industry, energy and health care.