An Iveco Stralis 4×2 heavy truck is the first commercial NGV in Israel.
CNH Industrial N.V., headquartered in London and active globally, together with its sister company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), have provided an audience in Tel Aviv, Israel with an update on activities related to the development of alternative fuel and natural gas-based technologies. The presentations were delivered in the context of an MoU signed February 2015.
The MoU between FCA, Iveco (a brand of CNH Industrial), Magneti Marelli (a brand of FCA) and the Israel Fuel Choices Initiative (IFCI), aims to promote natural gas fuel adoption by the transportation sector in Israel. The presentations took place as part of the 2016 Fuel Choices Summit, an international event held from November 2 – 3.
The Government of Israel has set an objective to establish the country as an alternative fuels knowledge hub and, as such, the Fuel Choices Initiative, Israel’s national program for alternative fuels in transportation, serves as a catalyst for the reduction of global dependence on crude oil.
The Fuel Choices Summit explored and exhibited innovation in alternative fuels and smart mobility, providing a platform for a dialogue about the world’s most forward-thinking approaches to transportation in order to promote Israel’s ambitious goal of reducing 60% of the country’s oil consumption by 2025. The fourth annual edition of the Fuel Choices Summit was hosted by Israel’s Prime Minister and counted 1,500 participants and automotive and energy companies from more than 30 countries.
CNH Industrial has cooperated with IFCI over the last two years to target these objectives and is strongly committed to reducing the environmental impact of road transport, a key pillar in the Company’s sustainability policy.
CNH Industrial across its range of Iveco trucks and buses and FPT Industrial powertrain technologies is a recognized leader in the development, manufacture and distribution of vehicles powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) and biomethane. CNG combustion is less polluting than petrol and the majority of CNH Industrial’s vehicles are also ready to run on this alternative fuel.
Last year, more than 900 natural gas Iveco and Iveco Bus vehicles were delivered to customers and 25% of low floor city bus units produced by Iveco Bus in Europe were powered by natural gas.
In Israel, the partnership with the Israel Fuel Choices Initiative marked a concrete result last year with the delivery of the first ever natural gas powered vehicle in the country: an Iveco Stralis heavy truck powered by an Iveco Cursor 8 CNG Euro VI engine, which was ordered by Fridenson Group, one of Israel’s largest logistics companies.
Natural gas represents a bridge to gas from renewable sources, such as biomethane (renewable natural gas), which is derived from refined biogas. Biomethane can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 100% without any changes to the existing natural gas distribution network or natural gas vehicles available on today’s market. The major part of CNH Industrial’s commercial vehicles and bus portfolio is fit to run on biomethane.
In this context, CNH Industrial’s agricultural machinery brand New Holland Agriculture is currently testing its T6.140 Methane Power tractor. This second generation prototype represents a key step towards the Energy Independent Farm concept, which focuses on the ability of farms to produce energy from natural sources, in this case biomass, that in turn will power the machines and the farm itself. This is another future concept that could successfully be applied in many global agricultural scenarios, including the Israeli farming sector.
The New Stralis Natural Power from Iveco
In June, Iveco launched the New Stralis NP (Natural Power), which runs on CNG) and LNG. It features the new FPT Industrial Cursor 9 Natural Power Euro 6 engine, the first of its kind to deliver the same power and torque output as its diesel equivalent.
Iveco has presented the LNG-only version of the New Stralis NP to key Israeli customers over the past months. The truck has a record range autonomy of 1,500 km and is described by Iveco as the first true long-haul gas truck on the market that offers an alternative to diesel vehicles and the most sustainable long-distance transport truck ever.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and Iveco are both members of NGV Italy and Associate Members of NGV Global.
(Source: CNH Industrial)
