May 2004
Shell Gas Ltd is taking delivery of five new Iveco vehicles for its LPG distribution fleet, completing the fourth year of a five year fleet replacement programme.
The order consists of three Stralis Active Day (AD260S31YPS) 26 tonne rigids and two Eurocargo (ML180E24K) 18 tonners, each of which are fitted with Lakeland 2000 LPG tanker bodies.
The new fleet is being used for making LPG deliveries to both domestic customers and light commercial operations across the UK, with each vehicle on the road for up to seven days a week and expected to cover between 60,000 and 70,000 km a year.
"These are the second batch of Iveco’s to join the Shell Gas fleet, with the initial order being based on the strength of the relationship between other Shell divisions and Iveco. This relationship has involved the development of a tailor-made specification for all new vehicles over the past few years," explains Chris Ridal, Distribution and Operations Manager at Shell Gas Ltd.
"The availability of a lightweight chassis in the Iveco range was also a contributing factor in our decision to place the order, together with the fitment of the automatic EuroTronic transmission in the Stralis models as standard," he adds.
Additional features which make up Shell’s unique specification on all new Iveco vehicles includes ultrasonic sensors fitted at the front and rear to provide an audible warning of people or obstructions in close proximity, as well as a rear mounted wide-angle CCTV displaying images from the rear of the vehicle directly into a small screen located in the same position as a car’s rear view mirror, making it ‘second nature’ for the driver to use.
The Stralis AD models are powered by a 7.8 litre Cursor 8 engine which is capable of producing up to 310 hp between 1,950 and 2,400 rev/min and a maximum torque of 1,115 Nm from 1,000 to 1,950 rev/min, driven through a EuroTronic gearbox.
The smaller 18 tonne Eurocargos feature a 240 hp version of Iveco’s 5.9 litre tector engine, which produces up to 810 Nm of torque between 1,250 and 2,100 rev/min, driven through a nine-speed manual gearbox.
Release date: 25 May 2004