Hydrogen: Emission-free and practical
Emmi now has two H2 lorries from Hyundai that run on “green” hydrogen on the road. This technology has the potential to lead freight transport by road to a sustainable future. Hydrogen-powered lorries can be refuelled normally, have a good range and offer sufficient transport capacity.
We supply our Swiss customers with fresh dairy products on a daily basis. To do so, around 8,000 pallets have to be taken from A to B every day. We have 140 vehicles in operation for this purpose, which cover a total of 9.3 million kilometres every year.
Although we are constantly renewing our lorry fleet and training our drivers in climate friendly driving, this results in considerable CO2 emissions, around 7,800 tons of CO2 annually. We have shifted some of our transport to rail in recent years, but this environmentally friendly means of transport has various limitations.
Outgrowing the prototype phase
It is therefore very important to us to find an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional diesel lorries. However, until now no means of transport has met the high requirements in terms of transport capacity, range and economy. Now a promising alternative has reached series production capability: hydrogen powered lorries.
Hydrogen technology offers a range of benefits:
- Emissions: Hydrogen (H2) trucks emit water vapour rather than CO2 and other pollutants. Emmi’s H2 trucks will be fuelled via Hydrospider’s network of filling stations, which supply 100% emission-free hydrogen. Every H2 truck that replaces a conventional diesel truck will therefore help save around 70 to 80 tonnes of CO2 per year.
- Range: A truck can cover around 400 kilometres on one tank. This is on a par with conventional diesel trucks.
- Handling: A H2 vehicle can be filled just like a diesel or petrol vehicle.
- Freight use: Using hydrogen as a fuel also permits smooth operation of auxiliary units (e.g. cold store).
On the front line
As a member of the H2 Mobility Switzerland Association we are at the forefront of efforts to establish this new mobility technology for freight transport. For example, we have just taken delivery of the first two H2 trucks from the South Korean automobile manufacturer Hyundai. These will now undergo extensive testing in Emmi’s day-to-day fresh products logistics processes.
Contact
Emmi Corporate Communications | Sibylle Umiker, Head of Media Relations | 058 227 50 66 | media@emmi.com
Further information on this topic
About Emmi
Emmi is a major Swiss milk processor. The company dates back to 1907, when it was founded by 62 dairy farming cooperatives around Lucerne. Over the past 20 years, Emmi has grown into an international, listed group. It has for many years pursued a successful strategy based on three pillars: strengthening its Swiss domestic market, international growth and cost management. Throughout its corporate history, Emmi’s keen awareness of its responsibility to society, animal welfare and the environment has been fundamental to its mission.
In Switzerland, Emmi manufactures a comprehensive range of dairy products for its own brands and private label products for customers, including leading exports such as Emmi Caffè Latte and Kaltbach. In other countries, its products – mainly speciality products – are manufactured locally. Alongside cow’s milk, it also processes goat’s and sheep’s milk.
In Switzerland, the Emmi Group has 25 production sites. Abroad, Emmi and its subsidiaries have a presence in 14 countries, eight of which have production facilities. Emmi exports products from Switzerland to around 60 countries. Its business activities focus on the Swiss domestic market as well as western Europe and the American continent. Half of its CHF 3.5 billion in sales – over 10 % of which stems from organic products – is generated in Switzerland, the other half abroad. Almost two-thirds of its more than 8,000 employees are currently based outside of Switzerland.