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Go for gas and pick up five free trucks
Page 24
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A CNG supplier is offering free trucks if an operator can find enough work for them. Is there such a thing as a free lunch? Guy Sheppard finds out.
A GREEN energy supplier is offering to slash fuel costs to just 28p/mile after acquiring five ERF tractor units.
John Baldwin, MD of Crewebased CNG Services, is looking for an operator to go into partnership with after converting the trucks to CNG (compressed natural gas): "I'll provide the trucks and fuel — he has to find the work. I'll make my margin on supplying the gas."
Baldwin claims that if all five trucks cover 140,000 miles a year, fuel savings over diesel-powered trucks running at a standard 44p/ mile would amount to £112,000.
Maintenance costs will be higher, but he points out that Vehicle Excise Duty is £700 a year lower.
According to the Energy Saving Trust (EST), the governmentfunded organisation that promotes sustainable use of energy there are fewer than 430 CNG-powered trucks in the UK even though the fuel only costs around 40p/litre.
Grants for converting trucks to CNG were stopped at the end of last month (March). "The new programmes are waiting for European Commission approval," says an EST spokeswoman.
• Contact John Baldwin on 0121 707 8581; e-mail john.baldwin@ cngservices.co.uk