The Westfalen Group is already one of the pioneers in the market for alternative fuels such as LPG and hydrogen in Germany. Now the energy technology company has expanded its alternative fuel interests to include LNG for heavy-duty truck applications.
The first LNG station will be built in late autumn 2019 on the site of the Westfalen petrol station opened in Baunatal, a town in the district of Kassel, in Hesse. “The location is ideal for freight forwarders: centrally located in Germany and close to the A 7, A 44 and A 49 motorways,” says Julian Janocha, project manager for LNG at the Westfalen Group.
Under the motto “Hot discussion. Ice cold decision”, Westfalen Group invited around 60 participants from the transport sector to meet at the Baunatal station at the beginning of February. Representatives from vehicle manufacturers, NOW GmbH – a national organisation committed to innovative drives – and Meyer Logistik GmbH & Co. KG, which already has two years of experience with the use of LNG for heavy trucks, answered numerous questions about the change from diesel to LNG.
In the field of heavy trucks, LNG is currently the only alternative to diesel and LNG-powered trucks are just as powerful as their diesel counterparts. However, operation with liquefied natural gas results in lower costs and lower emissions. This provides forwarders with strong competitive advantages and protects the climate and the environment.
While more and more driving bans are being imposed on diesel vehicles, forwarders at LNG benefit from attractive subsidy programmes: The purchase of an LNG vehicle is supported by the State with EUR 12,000 (USD 13,600). In addition, trucks that run on LNG will be exempt from tolls until the end of 2020. Tax concessions for the fuel brings further cost advantages.
“The political conditions for switching from diesel to LNG are right,” says Janocha. “The vehicles are absolutely ready for the market. Now only the filling stations are missing. We would like to help close this gap.”
Forwarders who rely on LNG vehicles can already now obtain offers for the new truck fuel from the Westfalen Group. Companies that commit themselves to fixed purchase quantities before the opening of the LNG filling station are granted an attractive discount by the family-owned company from Münster.
The Westfalen Group is a technology company in the energy industry with a total of 23 subsidiaries and associated companies in Germany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Austria, Poland, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. With 260 stations, the Westfalen Group operates the largest Network of independent brand filling stations in Germany – primarily in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony.
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