Technological developments in the truck industry are moving fast. Stricter environmental standards demand that manufacturers commit themselves to the development of cleaner, quieter and more economical lorries. Our salesmen give their views on the trucks of the future, the developments within the industry itself and within The Truck Traders. Bas, Henk, Joost, Martijn and Pim share their views.
What developments do you see happening in the truck industry?
These days, almost all of the trucks we sell have Euro-6 engines. But the European Union's zero emission aims go even further, as does the development of emission-free trucks. The emergence of trucks powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) has escaped no one's attention. This alternative fuel is cleaner than diesel and it produces considerably fewer emissions of fine particles and CO2. That is why LNG trucks are quieter than conventional diesel trucks. We also see that a growing number of trucks is powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), or pressurised natural gas. And a few truck manufacturers produce electric vehicles.
The question is whether trucks which use alternative fuels will actually succeed in winning a large share of the market. The related infrastructure is currently limited. In the Netherlands and the rest of Europe, there are not enough filling locations and charging stations. In addition, in spite of various subsidy regulations, alternative fuels still cost more than regular diesel and the total costs of an electric truck are higher than the diesel models. At the same time, manufacturers of diesel vehicles haven't been sitting still. Volvo's new turbo compound engine is a good example. The turbo compound unit recovers energy from the exhaust gases to drive the engine, leading to a 7% saving in fuel costs. Efficient and effective for long-haul transports.
What does this mean for The Truck Traders' strategy?
Of course, we move along with the market and we respond to new developments. But our hearts will always lie with a great big Scania V8 and that will not change overnight. Let's not forget our customers, of course! We offer them what they want, whether that is low-fuel consumption or an open pipe. In coming years, diesel trucks will continue to be the standard. We believe that developments in LNG, CNG and electric trucks are still at the early stages. We will continue to watch what the market does and what it wants. If that turns out to be LNG trucks, of course we will adapt our buying strategy accordingly. That is exactly what we are doing at the moment for Volvos with the new turbo compound engine; we have noticed that customers are specifically asking for them. And we have them!
What type of vehicle or which specific development do you find interesting?
Bas: I am looking forward to the arrival of the new DAF. The current (Super) Space Cab by DAF is still based on a cabin dating back to 1987. I am curious to see what their innovations will be. Henk:I am interested to see how soon electric trucks will gain a foothold in the market, for distribution and over shorter distances, possibly in combination with electric cooling systems. For example, Tesla trucks
Joost: I like to follow the development of transport with Long Heavy Vehicles (LHV). These are quite well-known in the Netherlands, but now they are also becoming better known internationally, for example in Belgium, Germany, Scandinavia and the Czech Republic.
Martijn: I wonder if closed, air-conditioned livestock trucks will become the norm for livestock transport, in keeping with responsible transport and the highest possible regard for animal welfare. And if we will ever see a unanimously approved European legislation regarding livestock transport.
Pim: I have high expectations of the Scania V8 with 770 horsepower. Scania is also working on reducing fuel consumption.