Biogas trucks set the example

Aftral is the provider par excellence in France when it comes to transport and logistics training. In order to keep its finger on the pulse of the times and the energy transition, Aftral also uses biogas trucks in addition to various simulators for training drivers and logistics specialists. Five CNG Scania have just joined the Aftral fleet.

Thierry Larue, director of the private Scania dealer Scevi, and Laurent Pepin, director of materials and fleet management at Aftral, handing over the keys to the five CNG trucks. Source: Scania France

Aftral operates no fewer than 130 training centres in France. Around 300,000 trainees per year take advantage of the training and further education measures for drivers, logisticians and experts in goods handling. For France’s largest provider of such training, it is important to be as climate-friendly as possible during the training journeys, but also as open to technology as possible, in order to optimally prepare the drivers for new drives in everyday life.

The energy transition has to come, but we still have to remain open,” explains Laurent Pepin, Director of Material and Fleet Management at Aftral. “We always take a close look at what the market offers, whether CNG and biogas, B100 biodiesel, electricity or even hydrogen. And we always integrate some vehicles into our training fleet to learn how best to use these types of propulsion.” The French market leader for transport and logistics training therefore started to purchase gas-powered trucks – mainly CNG vehicles – several years ago.

Aftral uses Gas trucks to familiarise trainees with alternative drive systems – such as CNG-powered trucks, which are almost CO₂-neutral on the road thanks to biogas – at an early stage. Source: Scania

“LNG, i.e. highly refrigerated liquefied natural gas, is more difficult for us to handle because of the short distances we cover in training courses,” explains Pepin. And because you also have to have your own refuelling facilities, Aftral has ruled out biodiesel B100 for the time being, in addition to the high-cold LNG. Instead, new Scania R 410 A4X2NA tractors powered by CNG recently joined the Aftral fleet. Scevi, a Scania dealer from Canly, delivered them to the nearby training campus in Monchy-Saint-Éloi, where the Aftral fleets are managed.

Thierry Larue, director of Scevi, reveals, “We are very proud to be able to accompany the training of the chauffeurs through this delivery. It’s a nice reference.” Three CNG-powered tractors have been taken to Monchy-Saint-Éloi, another CNG Scania is going to an Aftral training site in Amiens in the north of France and one to Laon, about 130 kilometres to the east. Another eight gas trucks will follow by 2024. That makes sense, after all, a CNG-powered truck emits up to 35 percent less CO₂ than a comparable diesel truck. If it is running on biogas, it is even almost CO₂-neutral on tour.

The CNG-powered trucks are cheaper than other alternative-powered trucks and best fit the Aftral specification. Source: Scania

“We have specific requirements on the specifications and especially on the costs to keep the price of the training courses in line for our customers,” adds Aftral’s Pepin at the handover of the first five CNG vehicles. “But fortunately we can also count on the financial support of the industry to drive the energy transition. By 2024, ten per cent of our fleet will be converted to ‘green’ energy, mainly biogas. We are also looking into an electric vehicle project.”

And the Director of Material and Fleet Management explains, “For this contract, the choice of Scania was logical. There are not many manufacturers offering gas vehicles, and we’ve had Scanias in the past.” Larue, from private Scania dealer Scevi, adds: “Incidentally, the installation of the dual controls required for the driving school operations was carried out by specialist Brevet, and the bodywork and superstructure were taken care of by Regnault.”

The first five CNG Scania vehicles have already been delivered, with eight more to follow in 2024. Source: Scania

For Laurent Pepin, not only is the more climate-friendly drive of the CNG Scania a plus point, he is also pleased that the trainees can get to grips with an alternative drive technology so early on. “It allows them to familiarise themselves with an energy source that they will undoubtedly also use later in their professional lives,” says Pepin. “The driving behaviour of CNG trucks is slightly different. The torque is at higher revs than with a diesel.” In addition, he said, the prospective chauffeurs could also be shown that refuelling with CNG or biogas is not witchcraft and, above all, absolutely safe. (pd/jas, 29 June 2023)