DHL has announced plans to add compressed natural gas powered vans (CNGs) to its UAE expressdelivery fleet in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Two vehicles will be tested initially.
Under the slogan ‘we travel naturally’, DHL said that it is putting twoenvironmentally-friendly units through a pilot testing phase as part of a plan to expand its UAEnatural gas fleet in the coming years. The testing phase units have been transformed from dieseloperating vans into natural gas ones by Al Naboodah Automobiles.
Natural gas is continuing to develop as an alternative fuel of choice in the region and usagecould rise to a 20% natural gas share of road traffic fuel consumption in the UAE by 2012, DHLnoted.
DHL UAE General Manager, Janet Jweihan commented: “We are the first company in the UAEexpress industry to put these types of vehicles on the road throughout the testing phase as part ofthe normal delivery fleet. It’s our intention to make our business as safe on the environment aspossible and we are committed to operating in an environmentally sound manner. We will endeavour toensure natural gas vehicles account for at least 50% of DHL express delivery fleet in the UAE by2009 after the testing phase reaches its outlined goals.”
Gasoline and diesel powered vehicles contribute to 80% of environment pollution in the UAEfollowed by factories, a recent study conducted by the Strategic Planning Department for Transportat the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai revealed. “Particulates in regular engineemissions are believed to cause serious health problems. Thus, in the long run, CNGs will helpreduce the UAE’s transportation sector emissions in specific and support a better environment ingeneral,” Jweihan added.
DHL UAE was recently upgraded to ISO 14001 accreditation. Developments included advancedstaff training to raise environmental awareness.
