TNT Express today announced the launch of pilot biofuel trucks in India as part of the company’sworldwide “Driving Clean” initiative to improve the environmental performance of its fleet.
The Indian pilot project will see specialist drivers run three biofuel trucks between Pune,Nasik and Bangalore, covering a total of 45,000 kilometres per month.
If the project proves efficient, TNT intends to expand use of the vehicle within its Indianfleet. Routes and driving times in the Indian project are to be optimized to further reduce carbonemissions, TNT said.
“Environmental quality is a priority for TNT,” commented TNT chief executive Peter Bakker. “More efficient and eco-friendly vehicles can help reduce the environmental impact of TNT’s fleet.We are also pleased to contribute to the Indian government’s bio fuel policy.”
Bakker said earlier this year that TNT would make a major effort across the company in 2007to reduce its CO2 “footprint”.
Driving Clean aims to convert the 42,000-strong truck fleet to reduced-emission andalternative-fuel vehicles.
TNT Express is already using alternative fuels and technologies in a variety of pilotprojects in the Netherlands, the UK, Germany, France and Australia. It currently has over 825low-emission vehicles, representing 7% of the total fleet, and approaching 300 alternative-fuelvehicles across the express division.
In conventional technology, the company has decided to invest only in Euro 5 standardvehicles from now on and TNT will buy nearly 3,000 of these before they become the compulsoryminimum in the EU, expected to be on 1 October 2009.
Last year, TNT retrofitted over 2,600 of its older trucks with soot filters, reducing theamount of harmful particulates they release by 61%.
