Caratrans gases up with ERFs
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• Crewe-based haulier Caratrans is converting a third of its fleet to gas power but says it cannot go further in the absence of an adequate refuelling infrastructure.
Caratrans will initially take on 14 Detroit Diesel gas-engined ERF tractors with another 10 gas trucks to follow in November.
As part of the switch to the new fuel it will also be opening the UK's largest Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) filling station, in association with fuel provider Lattice Energy Services.
The filling station, also in Crewe, will open this summer. It will be part of the Powershiftfunded programme, which is providing .2100,000 towards the site and half the cost of each truck.
Peter Thomas, Caratrans' financial controller, says: "Most of our fleet go out on a Monday and tramp around the country for the week so it's not practical to run them on gas. The gas trucks will all be involved in general haulage work where they return to base every day."
The filling station will be open to other companies; it will be managed by Lattice for four years before Caratrans takes it over.