IVECO wins “NGV Global Industry Champion” Award for its dedication to developing vehicles powered by natural gas

Monday 27th March 2017

With natural gas is commanding recognition as the most mature and affordable solution for sustainable transport, and with the rapid expansion of the refuelling network and an accelerating adoption rate by fleets, this prize recognises IVECO’s pioneering work in developing a full range of natural gas vehicles – from LCV to heavy trucks and buses – over the past 20 years. 

IVECO has won the “NGV Global Industry Champion” Award 2017 in recognition of its commitment to the natural gas sector and for its efforts in developing the compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) markets. The award is sponsored by NGV Global, the International Association for Natural Gas Vehicles, which represents the natural gas vehicle industry worldwide and is dedicated to promoting the use of natural gas and biomethane for transport, with a view to increasing vehicle efficiency and safety in all areas.

The official announcement was made by Diego Goldin, Executive Director of NGV Global, who said at the NGV Global 2017 Gala Dinner on Wednesday 22nd March in Rotterdam: “IVECO’s focus on natural gas propulsion, offering methane-powered alternatives (including biomethane) on its entire commercial vehicle product range, significantly contributes to the reduction of transport-related emissions. I hope you will accept this token not just as a mark of all that has been achieved but also as a beginning of a new chapter of greater adoption, development and prosperity for natural gas technology in the future.”

The biennial award recognises initiatives and programmes implemented by companies to develop and improve the natural gas sector around the world. The NGV Global board selected IVECO for the award based on criteria that included the progress made in the use of natural gas as an alternative fuel and the contribution to growing the natural gas vehicle market worldwide. The jury looked at the impact of the activities of the brand at national, regional and global level. NGV Global represents the interests of more than 350 members throughout the world. Since its establishment in 1986, it has seen the number of Natural Gas Vehicles (NGVs) in the world grow from almost none to more than 23 million. Over the next few years, NGV Global is projecting a continued growth, towards a target of 65 million NGVs on the road globally by 2030.

It is the first time that NGV Global presented the Industry award during the Biennial Conference and Exhibition. In previous occasions, the NGV Champions prize rewarded people and companies that had been important to the development of the Industry in their regions. This year, the Industry award was determined directly by the NGV Global leadership committee with the aim of recognising the leading industries with global presence in the Natural Gas for Transportation sector.

The “NGV Global Industry Champion Award” was accepted by Pierre Lahutte, IVECO Brand President, who commented: “We are proud that our commitment to the development of natural gas as a fuel for sustainable transport was recognised with this award. At a time when many are looking for alternatives to diesel and for ways of making electric or even hydrogen propulsion technologically and economically viable, which is not yet the case, Natural Gas simply proves to be a mature, reasonable and affordable solution. Natural Gas technology is not a dream for the future, it is a reality for today: a true, practical and immediate solution. At IVECO we have worked on the development of this sustainable fuel for more than 20 years and today we have 16,000 vehicles already operating either on Natural or Bio Gas.

“We are proud,” added Lahutte, “to be able to say that we are the first manufacturer to offer a full range of natural gas models, from light commercial vehicles to heavy trucks and buses, and that every day we see the adoption rate grow with the acquisition of new customers. The key objective of our product strategy is to provide our customers with vehicles that enable them to be more sustainable, both for the environment and their bottom line. Our Natural Power technology is at the forefront of the industry, offering a cutting-edge solution that counters pollutant emissions whilst reducing the Total Cost of Ownership, as well as slashing noise pollution – another key factor for urban areas today. Thanks to the increasing availability of bioCNG and bioLNG fuels in Europe, haulage and public transport companies are now able to operate a CO₂ neutral fleet, and contribute to energy independence and the fight against climate change.”

Indeed, since 1996 IVECO stoichiometric engines have been the reference for reliability, fuel economy and low emissions. With 30% less NOx, 99% fewer particulates and half the noise levels of the latest Euro VI diesel engines, IVECO gas-powered vehicles also provide a cutting-edge solution in terms of Total Cost of Ownership.

The “NGV Global Industry Champion” award, conferred to IVECO and its range of natural gas vehicles, is the latest addition to an extensive collection of national and international awards won this year by the Stralis NP, the first gas-powered vehicle designed for long-distance transport. They include the “Project of the Year” 2017 award at the European Gas Awards of Excellence in Vienna, and the Spanish “Vehículo Industrial Ecologico del Año” (Ecological Industrial Vehicle of the Year) 2017 prize, which come on the back of the recognition received by the Stralis NP at last year’s Green Fleet Awards 2016 in the UK. All these awards are testament to the importance of sustainability for the IVECO brand

IVECO also celebrated two victories at the recent inaugural “Sustainable Truck of the Year 2017” awards, promoted by the magazine Vado e Torno, in collaboration with Lifegate: the Eurocargo CNG won this prestigious prize in the DISTRIBUTION category, and the New Daily Electric in the VAN category

IVECO is a leader in the natural gas vehicle sector: with more than 20 years of experience, the brand has succeeded in creating forward-thinking solutions which will contribute to further reducing the environmental impact of the transport sector, making it the perfect partner for sustainable transport, as stated in its pay-off: “IVECO: Your partner for sustainable transport“. IVECO was the first manufacturer in the world to understand the potential of natural gas in the commercial transportation sector, anticipating several recommendations made by the European Commission in their European Strategy for Low-Emission Mobility. This document underlines the strategic role of liquefied natural gas in Europe for heavy vehicles, and its key contribution to reducing global warming, as well as providing a solution to the majority of problems related to air quality, courtesy of the ultra-low NOx and PM emissions, with the added benefit of cutting noise pollution too

IVECO and IVECO BUS boast a complete range of natural gas vehicles, including light, medium and heavy commercial vehicles and buses, with more than 16,000 units sold to date. These vehicles, which are already better in environmental terms for being fuelled by methane, feature a well-established technology with engines that are 100% compatible with bio-methane, a renewable fuel produced by the biodigestion of various types of biomass, agricultural waste and organic waste. For example, IVECO BUS operates in the city of Lille (France) 428 city buses, of which more than one third is using the biomethane produced by the methanisation of the city’s collected organic waste, in a facility adjacent to its bus depot.

IVECO

IVECO is a brand of CNH Industrial N.V., a World leader in Capital Goods listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CNHI) and on the Mercato Telematico Azionario of the Borsa Italiana (MI: CNHI). IVECO designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of light, medium and heavy commercial vehicles, off-road trucks, and vehicles for applications such as off-road missions.

The brand’s wide range of products include the Daily, a vehicle that covers the 3 – 7.2 ton vehicle weight segment, the Eurocargo from 6 – 19 tons, the Trakker (dedicated to off-road missions) and the Stralis, both over 16 tons. In addition, the IVECO Astra brand builds off-road trucks, rigid and articulated dumpers as well as special vehicles.

IVECO employs close to 21,000 individuals globally. It manages production sites in 7 countries throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania and Latin America where it produces vehicles featuring the latest advanced technologies. 4,200 sales and service outlets in over 160 countries guarantee technical support wherever an IVECO vehicle is at work.

For further information about IVECO: www.iveco.com
For further information about CNH Industrial: www.cnhindustrial.com

IVECO BUS

IVECO BUS is a brand of CNH Industrial N.V., a global leader in capital goods listed on the New York Stock Exchange and on the Borsa Italiana in Milan.

A major player in the field of public transport, and among the leading bus and coach manufacturers in Europe, IVECO BUS designs, manufactures and markets a broad range of vehicles that meets all the needs of public and private operators:

– school, intercity and tourism coaches (Crossway, Evadys and Magelys)

– standard and articulated city buses, including BRT dedicated versions, with a strong leadership in clean technologies such as CNG and Hybrids (Urbanway and Crealis)

– minibuses for all passenger transport missions (Daily)

– different chassis for bodybuilders.

IVECO BUS employs over 5,000 people across two production units, in Annonay, France and in Vysoké Myto, Czech Republic. Both factories were awarded the bronze medal in 2013 following their WCM (World Class Manufacturing) audits, an international methodology for managing manufacturing processes according to best standards worldwide.

The extensive IVECO BUS and IVECO service network guarantees assistance around the world wherever an IVECO BUS vehicle is at work.

For further information about IVECO: www.iveco.com
For further information about CNH Industrial: www.cnhindustrial.com

For further information, please contact:

IVECO Press Office – EMEA Region
pressoffice@iveco.com
www.ivecopress.com
Tel. +39 011 00 72965