Vähälä Yhtiöt chooses LNG-fueled vehicle to provide customers with more responsible alternative

Vähälä Yhtiöt is a full-service logistics company with responsibility as one of its most important values. Determined to offer its customers more environmentally friendly and responsible services, Vähälä Yhtiöt has introduced liquefied natural gas (LNG) as an alternative fuel. Powered by Gasum LNG, the new vehicle runs with even fuel consumption around the year – whatever the weather.

Established in 1937, Vähälä Yhtiöt is a Finnish family business providing its customers with transport services, storage services and a range of logistics added-value services. Vähälä Yhtiöt also partners with DB Schenker in Northern and Central Finland. The company is currently run by third-generation entrepreneurs. 

"We want to operate responsibly – including from the environmental perspective. We’re interested in more environmentally friendly modes of transport and alternative fuels. That’s why we also got interested in LNG," says Managing Director Ville Vähälä. 

The gas vehicle is quiet and pleasant to drive

Vähälä Yhtiöt started using its first LNG-fueled vehicle in early winter 2019. Cooperation with Gasum came about quite naturally – there is a Gasum gas filling station right opposite the Vähälä Yhtiöt Vaajakoski logistics center. 

"You fill the tank up with liquefied gas and the fuel’s then combusted in the gaseous form in the engine. The vehicle is considerably quieter than traditional diesel-fueled ones. With its output of 460 horsepower, it’s pretty great for these kinds of deliveries," Vähälä says.

"Our drivers have enjoyed driving this one. They say it makes for a pleasant drive," Vähälä continues. 

Even consumption whatever the weather

Compared with traditional diesel-fueled vehicles, one of the most significant benefits of LNG is the evenness of its consumption. While the consumption of diesel increases during the winter months, the fuel consumption rate of an LNG-powered vehicle stays the same no matter whether it is summer or winter. 

"Of course another major benefit is that it’s environmentally friendly. We’re able to provide our customers with more environmentally friendly services," Vähälä points out.

Vähälä Yhtiöt intends to introduce multiple LNG vehicles in Finland in the future. The current one has operated mainly in the Vaajakoski-Helsinki Metropolitan Area route. The new Gasum filling station opened in Oulu extends the routing opportunities further.

"The construction of the new filling station was a highly welcome development. Now we can increase our LNG-powered deliveries in the Oulu direction, too," Vähälä says.

31.10.2019