Iveco, a brand of Iveco Group NV and a pioneer in commercial vehicles with alternative propulsion, and Eni have signed a letter of intent. The two companies will join their skills to explore potential cooperation on sustainable mobility initiatives in the commercial vehicle sector in Europe and accelerate the decarbonisation of transport, in which they have been active for some time.
Iveco and Eni aim to define an integrated sustainable mobility platform for fleets by offering innovative vehicles powered by biofuels and sustainable energy carriers ‒ such as HVO biofuel (hydrotreated vegetable oil), biomethane, hydrogen and electricity ‒ and associated infrastructure.
The areas of collaboration envisaged by the letter of intent include Eni’s offer of 100% pure HVO for IVECO trucks equipped with compatible engines. The high-quality HVO biofuel can be used in pure form in all modern diesel engines. It is a high-quality biofuel derived from materials of plant origin and waste, produced using exclusive Ecofining technology in the Eni biorefineries of Venice and Gela.
100% pure HVO allows CO2 emission reductions of 60% to 90% (calculated on the whole life cycle) compared to the standard fossil mix.
In addition, Eni and IVECO – the European leader in natural gas commercial vehicles – also intend to accelerate the market launch of biomethane, a renewable fuel made from agro-industrial waste, which can be both compressed (CNG) and liquefied (LNG). This will be made possible through partnerships in Italy and abroad.
The non-exclusive collaboration also includes battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicle initiatives and associated infrastructure. IVECO has a plan to launch new models of electric batteries, then hydrogen fuel cells, while Eni intends to set up a network of charging stations. The Eni Live Station in San Giuliano, near Mestre (Venice), is the first hydrogen station in an urban area in Italy; this will be followed by a second station at San Donato Milanese.
” We are continuing our journey towards decarbonising freight transport using all options currently available and pursuing all potential areas of development“, commented Luca Sra, President of the Truck Business division of Iveco Group. ” This collaboration with Eni is another step towards achieving the Iveco Group’s goal of net zero CO2 emissions by 2040. It will allow us to take advantage of the vast experience of both companies, acquired over years of research and application in the field, and to design new solutions that are environmentally friendly and effective in terms of reducing the total cost of ownership (TCO). »
Giuseppe Ricci, Energy Evolution Business Director of Eni, said: “ The collaboration with IVECO is part of Eni’s strategy to achieve its goal of net zero emissions by 2050. To achieve this transition, it is essential to use all available technologies with a complementary approach with the aim of contributing to provide products that reduce emissions. With IVECO, we will be able to move forward with more sustainable transport since the partnership includes both technologically ready and immediately available solutions such as HVO biofuel, of which Eni is the second European producer, and biomethane, as well as joint development of solutions that will be ready in the medium and long term. These include the hydrogen network and the electrification of commercial vehicles, knowing that the energy transition is very complex and requires the synergistic and forward-looking contribution of all the players in the sector.. »
Iveco and Eni press release.
