Mühlacker, 26 March 2024 – CRAISS Generation Logistik GmbH & Co. KG is expanding its fleet of trucks with a lorry powered by liquefied natural gas-powered that will in future be used for tours between Mühlacker's headquarters and Hamburg as well as to North Rhine-Westphalia. The LNG vehicle is the first alternative fuel vehicle CRAISS has acquired in the course of its sustainability efforts for the logistics sector. More are to follow. The Group thereby aims to raise awareness of the importance of CO2-reduced transport solutions.
"The sense of duty towards the environment is anchored in our company values. That is why we are expanding our fleet in Germany and Austria to include vehicles powered by alternative fuels. LNG is the start – two electric trucks have already been ordered," explains Mark Mitterhuber, Head of Sales and Marketing at CRAISS Generation Logistik The family business is very aware of its ecological responsibility and, at the same time, has the long-term profitability of corresponding projects in mind.
The optimisation of the fleet, with the aim of CO2 neutrality, is just one branch of the CRAISS sustainability concept. Torsten Kurfiß, Head of Production and Transport at CRAISS Generation Logistik, explains: "As an established logistics service provider in the automotive sector, we see it as our duty to test innovative technologies." One should not only opt for a fuel for economic reasons or due to possible subsidies, but must also plan for the long term. "Compared to conventional fuels, LNG offers clear advantages in terms of environmental friendliness and, these days, it is sufficiently available across the board," he adds.
"The new truck is planned for routes between our main location, Hamburg and North Rhine-Westphalia. With a range of 1000 to 1100 kilometres, it can theoretically cover the entire distance without any intermediate charges," says Kurfiß. Fuel stops are nevertheless already integrated into tour planning to ensure that the truck never runs out of gas. The process is completed within 20 to 30 minutes. Furthermore, there are already contract filling stations, which will also provide regular reports on the truck's fuel consumption in the future. "For our partners, we thus also have the question of whether and how positively the van impacts both our and their ecological footprint in black and white," adds Mark Mitterhuber, Head of Marketing and Sales.
It is already clear that customers are increasingly rewarding the logistics service provider's commitment to sustainability and are relying on it more and more heavily, says Mitterhuber. The investment also met with a positive response from CRAISS' employees. The future drivers will receive instruction and training on handling and refuelling, as well as protective measures when dealing with the LNG vehicle, and, according to Mitterhuber, are altogether showing great interest in the new addition to the fleet: "This is the motivation we want to evoke with innovative projects like this. May things continue this way!"