Interim solutions for immediate emissions reduction

One of CEVA’s major levers to reduce emissions is to decarbonize its vehicle fleet. While electric or even hydrogen-powered trucks are on their way, the infrastructure and technology is not yet readily available. But reducing emissions doesn’t have to wait for the technology to catch up. One alternative fuel that is accessible right now is hydrotreated vegetable oil, known as HVO100. As it’s a biofuel, HVO100 produces significantly lower carbon emissions than diesel and it can be used in conventional diesel engines.

Catherine Hughes, Environmental & Sustainability Manager, CEVA Logistics, UK, Ireland & Nordics (UKIN), explained more about HVO100 in a talk at the Transport Manager Conference Programme 2023. Here’s what she had to say:

 

Which alternative fuels are you trialing in your operations?

We've rolled out sustainably sourced HVO100, which now accounts for over 30 percent of our commercial vehicle fleet fuel use, covering 13 sites and over 200 CEVA vehicles in its activities in the UK & Ireland for Ground & Rail and contract logistics activities.

 

What challenges have you faced?

The challenges that we've faced include the high cost of HVO100, which is a huge drawback and makes it very difficult to roll out more widely across our fleet, since many of our customers simply cannot afford to pay the additional pence per litre cost on top of the diesel prices.

As we cannot take on that entire additional cost ourselves, we were limited on what contracts we could use the HVO100 with until recently, when we worked with our HVO100 supplier to come up with more affordable solution to roll out HVO100 across the fleet.

Additionally, the use of HVO100 also requires the installation of tanks at our sites, which in a few instances led to it not being feasible, due to no suitable locations to place the tank on the site and there being no public forecourts nearby from which to refuel.

 

What difference has the use of these fuels made to your carbon footprint?

The difference that using HVO100 has made to our carbon footprint has been pretty dramatic. Overall, the use of HVO100 has a decrease up to 90% in carbon emissions compared to diesel. And since it's a drop in fuel for our diesel fleet, it provides an amazing intermediary step between diesel and future HGV technologies like hydrogen or electric solutions.

HVO100 provides an immediate improvement on our carbon emissions, so we can start making a difference from right now and not wait for alternative technologies for larger HGVs to become a viable option for us. We're taking action today with an eye on solutions of tomorrow

 

What is the future for alternative fuels at CEVA Logistics?

With 13 HVO100 storage tanks and 200 vehicles using HVO100 in the UK & Ireland, CEVA used over 350,000 litres of HVO100 per month in 2023, which equates to over 45 percent of the total fuel used. CEVA is currently working to find a new supplier, following which time it hopes to install further tanks to increase the percentage of HVO100 fuel use. 

CEVA Logistics UK&I is also actively installing 14kWh electric vehicle chargers in 22 sites for cars and vans. Three sites will receive 22kWh+ chargers and further sites are being surveyed for high-capacity commercial vehicle chargers. In addition, CEVA has completed the trial of an 18-tonne electric vehicle in a ground and rail network site, with further trials and long-term EV transitions planned over the next six months.

In the next five to 10 years, CEVA will continue to focus on HVO100 fuel providing we can continue to get it from sustainable sources and we will increase fleet electrification and potentially hydrogen. But it really depends on the infrastructure and grants that become available.

To open out the discussion from just the UK & Ireland, CEVA Ground & Rail has a target to reduce its carbon footprint by 30% globally based on its 2022 emissions. To achieve this goal, there is a strong push towards a range of alternative fuels. By the end of 2023, CEVA counted 620 vehicles using alternative fuels, including around 300 electric battery vehicles, 220 biofuels (HVO100 & B100), 100 LNG/CNG. 
CEVA Ground & Rail believes zero emissions electric battery vehicles will be key, which is why our target is to deploy 1450 electric vehicles worldwide in 2025, including owned & subcontracted fleet. 

We're always open to new opportunities and innovations and continue to work closely with our suppliers to take part in trials to reduce our carbon emissions, using the most effective and operationally feasible solutions.