South African legislation enforces the use of only Euro II engines on trucks, as from 2010.

The Euro specification refers to the level of vehicle emissions, with Euro V engines producing much less emissions than Euro II engines.

However, the higher the specification, the cleaner the engine’s fuel requirements. In South Africa, current fuel quality can only really cater for trucks up to the Euro III level.

“In South Africa, Mercedes-Benz trucks are currently available with Euro III as standard,” explains MBSA commercial vehicles vice-president Kobus van Zyl.

The availability of low sulphur diesel throughout Southern Africa is the primary reason why Euro IV or Euro V technology has not been implemented as yet, he adds.

However, in this pilot project, Imperial will run five Mercedes-Benz trucks under controlled circumstances, and on dedicated routes, notes Imperial Logistics CEO Marius Swanepoel.

“We want to reduce our vehicles’ emissions.”

The trucks will use BlueTec technology, which makes use of high-quality fuel (50 parts per million sulphur) as well as AdBlue – an exhaust gas treatment fluid which reduces the emissions through the exhaust system – to be administered by a selected fuel company with a strong presence in South Africa.

“We will be the first logistics company to use Euro V trucks,” says Swanepoel.

BlueTec combines economic and environmental benefits, explains Van Zyl.

For example, the exhaust gas of Mercedes-Benz trucks equipped with BlueTec technology contains around 80% less particle emissions and 60% less nitrogen oxide.

Commercial vehicles equipped with BlueTec also consume 2% to 5% less fuel on average, which adds up to savings of 1 500 ℓ to 2 000 ℓ of diesel a year per truck, assuming an annual driving distance of 150 000 km for long-haulage trucks.

Truck traffic is responsible for about 5% of global carbon dioxide emissions, notes MBSA president and CEO Dr Hansgeorg Niefer.

However, the global commercial vehicle market is expected to grow by 50% in the coming decade, and, with it, the industry’s carbon footprint.