Iveco, supplier of Daily base vehicle for minicoach and minibus use in UK, has reaffirmed its belief that battery electric and compressed natural gas (CNG) power will be prominent in the future, including in passenger applications.
But diesel will retain its importance, says Brand President Pierre Lahutte. “There is no single panacea as an alternative to it,” he says. Battery electric drive will become common in urban areas, but that comes with caveats.
“Electric will play an important role, particularly where average speeds are low. But it is only clean if it is produced in an environmentally-friendly manner.”
Nevertheless, Mr Lahutte believes that Iveco’s zero-emission battery electric Daily minibus “is a perfect solution for passenger transport in cities.”
CNG is a more suitable alternative for higher-mileage use. Iveco has formed a partnership with Shell to increase the number of gas refuelling and battery charging stations in Germany and that may expand to the UK.
Iveco’s belief in CNG for some applications is supported by an order received from a UK-based operator for a handful of gas-powered minicoaches and it is committed to extending that reach. Mr Lahutte adds that CNG is likely to become common in vehicles that cover long distances. It produces substantially lower emissions than diesel.
“But that will not mark the end of diesel. We must use the right mix of technologies. Ours are all built on achieving low emissions while delivering a low total cost of ownership.”
