Gas Trick

Iveco has been bullish about the qualities of its new Stralis NP460. Is the company’s confidence warranted? And is gas really a viable alternative to diesel power?

- Colin Barnett

Iveco stated that the gas-powered Stralis 9.0-litre NP400 tractor unit, as driven by us from John o’ Groats to Land’s End on one tank of gas last year, was as good as a diesel.

Now the Italian manufacturer has answered the call for a bit more power and makes the bold claim that its successor, the 13-litre NP460, is better than a diesel; in the words of Iveco brand president Pierre Lahutte, “it will make diesel a thing of the past”.

The bottom line

The NP460 is effectively the fourth generation gas-powered Stralis, the line having been established in 1997 with 300hp. Its vital statistics include maximum power of 460hp and a torque figure of 2000Nm. Fuel can be CNG (compressed natural gas), LNG (liquefied natural gas) or biomethane, the latter being required to realise significant diminution of CO2.

On the crucial subject of range, tank sizes have been increased to give a potential range of 1600km on a regular 4x2 tractor and similar on a rigid. However, the UK’s favourite 6x2 long-haul tractor might struggle with the maximum 750km (466 miles) range. These figures are all for LNG, its energy density being some 2.5 times that of CNG.

Although Iveco claims its whole-life total cost of ownership is rather less than a diesel, there are some caveats.

For a start, the purchase cost is 30-40% higher than the equivalent diesel. Running costs may be slightly higher, with oil service intervals – although extended to 90,000km – still more frequent than diesel’s 100,000km. On the positive side of the maintenance equation, most of the diesel’s engine after-treatment system is missing, there being just a simple three-way catalyst.

What? Spark plugs?