Austrian Post rolls out six HVO-powered trucks

Austrian Post has rolled out six trucks powered by hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and announced plans to test electric and hydrogen power technologies in its heavy goods fleet as part of its plan to achieve CO2-free deliveries by 2030.

As a “bridging solution” HVO is being used to operate six delivery trucks in the Graz and Vienna regions. According to the postal operator, the HVO fuel, which is produced from waste, fats, vegetable residues and vegetable oils, can be used in diesel engines without any technical modifications.

The HVO fuel is being provided by Eni Sustainable Mobility and Biofuel Express at gas stations with HVO pumps in Graz and Vienna. The fuel providers noted that up to 90% of CO2 emissions can be saved over the product life cycle compared to fossil diesel.

The HVO-powered vehicles will be used between logistics centres, delivery bases and post offices and will transport parcels, advertising mail, letters and print media. Austrian Post will be analysing the trucks’ driving characteristics, fuel consumption and achievable CO2 savings between now and September.

The HVO fuel used by Austrian Post is subject to the European Renewable Energy Directive (RED II). It aims to ensure that biofuels have no negative impact on food production, the environment or social sustainability.

“The goal of Austrian Post is to use completely emission-free trucks. Until hydrogen and electric trucks are ready for practical use, we will test every bridging technology that can already contribute to reducing emissions. With the first HVO vehicles in Vienna and Graz, we are already driving towards a greener future,” said Peter Umundum, Director of Parcels and Logistics at Österreichische Post AG.

Hydrogen and electric trucks

In addition to its HVO programme, Austrian Post has applied for funding from the Emission-free commercial vehicles and infrastructure (ENIN) program to test two electric trucks and two hydrogen-powered trucks.

If the funding applications are successful, the two electric trucks will replace two diesel vehicles that currently commute between a logistics centre in Vienna-Inzersdorf and Vienna-Schwechat Airport. A dedicated fast charging station will be installed at the logistics centre site.

Depending on the funding notification and the delivery time of the vehicles, Austrian Post expects to use them in the second quarter of 2024.

Meanwhile, the focus of the second funding application is the testing of two hydrogen trucks. The trucks will be used on networks with existing filling stations for green hydrogen, which are currently available in Tyrol and Vienna. Further filling stations with green hydrogen are already being planned and should cover all the country’s main traffic routes soon.

With an expected range of around 400km per refuelling and the existing filling stations, the hydrogen trucks can be used on all postal routes throughout Austria.

Due to the long delivery times and the currently still scarce supply of green hydrogen, the first two post-hydrogen trucks are expected to be used by the end of 2024, the post noted.