SMMT Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders : Iveco wins major European award for gas power

The Iveco Stralis NP, the first natural gas truck engineered for long-haul operations, has been voted 'Project of the Year' at the European Gas Excellence Awards 2017, during the European Gas Conference, the annual meeting for the European gas industry.

The conference gathers more than 450 key representatives from regional governments and industry leaders and more than 80 gas producers, to address issues related to Europe's energy future.

Iveco beat other gas ventures including a new CNG terminal at the French sea port of Dunkerque and an LNG terminal at the Port of Zeebrugge, as well as car maker Audi's e-gas Project.

The brand was praised for being the first manufacturer in the world of commercial transport to understand the potential of natural gas, anticipating some of the recommendations of the European Commission published in the communication 'A European Strategy for Low-Emission Mobility', which states that Liquefied Natural Gas for heavy duty vehicles is strategic for Europe, providing a solution to most of the issues we face today: local air quality, global warming and noise.

Iveco was first to market with natural gas powered transport vehicles, starting with refuse collection trucks in 1996, followed by urban, regional and inter-regional distribution. The long-distance Stralis NP was launched in September 2016.

Pierre Lahutte, Iveco Brand President, said, 'Iveco saw very early on that the future of transport was in sustainable alternative solutions. Our New Stralis NP, voted 'Project of the Year' at the European Gas Awards of Excellence 2017, is a revolutionary gas truck for sustainable transport: it builds on Iveco's extensive expertise to take a step into the future. It is the first true long-haul gas truck in the market that offers a real alternative to diesel vehicles and the most sustainable long-distance transport truck ever.'