‘Unique’ Mercedes-Benz Atego Hybrid truck also uses electric propulsion
Transport and logistics firm DSV is testing a biofuel hybrid rigid delivery truck that uses hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO 100) and electricity in the Swedish city of Malmö.
Danish-headquartered DSV describes the Mercedes-Benz Atego Hybrid truck as unique.
The project will be evaluated after six months and the results will help determine if electric hybrids can become long-term solutions to distribution in metropolitan areas.
Testing of low-emission delivery and service vehicles is a common experience in northern European cities as local governments bow to the public’s demands for clean air.
“Mercedes Atego Hybrid is our latest investment in environmentally certified vehicles as part of our long-term efforts to reduce environmental impact,” DSV business area manager Staffan Klinterhäll says.
“We definitely see the benefits of having a new type of distribution vehicle in urban traffic, as the combination of HVO and electricity produces significantly lower emissions levels of carbon dioxide.
“It will be interesting to see how it works to drive a hybrid in the urban environment and the environmental benefits it provides.”
HVO stands for hydrotreated vegetable oil, which is an advanced renewable biomass in the form of 100 per cent synthetic diesel.
DSV explains that contrary to what the name implies, a large part of Swedish HVO 100 is produced using abattoir waste in addition to vegetable oils. HVO 100 may reduce CO2 emissions by up to 90 per cent.
Other emissions – CO/HC/NOx and particulates – are 20-60 per cent lower compared with regular diesel.
“With this investment, we continue our active environmental efforts towards sustainable logistics in close cooperation with our customers,” DSV Road MD and Sweden, Norway and Finland regional director Magnus Malmqvist says.
The Atego Hybrid has been around for nearly 10 years in BlueTec low-emissions diesel guise and tested five of those.