Iveco and SNAM push biomethane and hydrogen mobility

The commercial vehicle manufacturer Iveco, FPT Industrial, and the energy supplier Snam have entered into a cooperation agreement to promote the central role of mobility with natural gas (Bio-CNG and Bio-LNG) and hydrogen. The aim is to develop business models for light and heavy commercial vehicles as well as buses along the entire value chain, from engines (with FPT Industrial) and commercial vehicles (IVECO) to sales infrastructure and services (Snam, via Snam4Mobility) among the three partners.

The goal is the joint strategic development of vehicles and a sales network for sustainable mobility to promote the further use of vehicles with alternative drives. The collaboration will also extend to creating studies for the planning and testing of innovative refueling solutions, technologies, and infrastructures for fleets and industry customers. In addition, the partners plan to collaborate on sustainable mobility projects in the public transport sector and energy supply companies.

In this context, further initiatives are to be pursued that combine the commitment and advocacy of institutions at regional, national, and European levels, facilitating the spread of sustainable mobility solutions based on natural gas and hydrogen.

"With this agreement, we aim to strengthen the role of natural gas as an immediate solution for reducing emissions by leveraging our leadership in this sector and developing biomethane and subsequently hydrogen as keys for sustainable mobility for heavy-duty vehicles in the future," outlined Alessio Torelli, CEO of Snam4Mobility.

With Snam4Mobility, a sales infrastructure is to be established. Torelli already considers biomobility possible today and believes that hydrogen will soon be available. The partnership with FPT Industrial and IVECO aims to collaborate with key industry players to expand and develop the technology within the value chain on an international level, Torelli further specified.

Marco Liccardo, Vice President of Medium & Heavy Trucks Global Product Line at IVECO, adds that the transformation has already begun and hydrogen plays a leading role in it.

"Today, we indeed look to the future with the knowledge that natural gas and biomethane are fundamental enablers and bridges to hydrogen. This is the solution for long-distance freight transport concerning the strict European emission reduction targets by 2025," said Liccardo.

Therefore, together with Nikola, a fuel cell truck is to be launched by 2023. Liccardo sees the cooperation with Snam as another important step for sustainable mobility and an opportunity to establish and expand the necessary infrastructure, initially in Italy.