Renault Trucks has announced the European launch of a new gas-powered variant of its Distribution range. Labelled the D Wide CNG, the truck is fitted with the manufacturer’s new 320 bhp 9L Euro 6 gas engine and is available in either 19-tonne 4×2 or 26-tonne 6×2 configuration.
Natural gas (CNG) engines emit virtually no particles, smoke or odour; and in urban environments, they have an operating range comparable to that of a diesel vehicle. According to the French manufacturer, its D Wide CNG Euro 6 can operate on natural gas or bio-methane fuel (biogas). Bio-methane fuel is a renewable energy produced from organic materials which generates significantly lower CO2 emissions than a diesel vehicle.
Vehicles running on CNG bio-methane fuel are therefore well suited for use in urban and suburban environments (distribution and delivery), and have found favour with regional authorities for use on street cleaning, refuse collection and distribution.
The D Wide CNG Euro 6 is offered with a fully automatic Allison Series 3200 gearbox, which has been adapted for refuse collection applications. Like the diesel version, the D Wide CNG has a gearbox which automatically switches from neutral to driving mode and vice versa to enable the driver to activate the tipper without having to manually change into neutral.
A choice of two fuel tank capacities are available: 600 litres of gas compressed to 200 bars, which is 90 kg of gas in six tanks; or 800 litres, which is 120 kg of gas using eight tanks.
