Vehicle fleet to be equipped with reduced-consumption, low-emission cars

Krones tests 7-series BMW with a hydrogen-powered drive

Krones is not only the leading player in its chosen sector, but also out in front when it comes to its responsibilities towards the natural environment and climate protection. This is why the company is testing a drive technology of the future.

On the first Friday in July, Volker Kronseder, Krones’ Executive Board Chairman, accepted the key for the BMW Hydrogen 7 from Christoph von Tschirschnitz, Sales Manager Direct Customers, and the Clean Energy Team of BMW AG. This 7-series BMW is powered by hydrogen, and thus has well-nigh zero emissions. For a period of five weeks, the Krones board and Krones customers now have an opportunity to try out this new technology with hands-on immediacy.

“Regeneratively produced hydrogen ranks among the energy sources of the future. It contributes towards reducing CO² emissions. Vehicles with hydrogen-powered engines marry mobility to climate protection: this is ecologically beneficial and financially viable in the long term, fitting in ideally with Krones’ strategy of sustainability”, said Executive Board Chairman Volker Kronseder as the key was handed over.

Krones is already opting for reduced-consumption, low-emission cars in its vehicle fleet management. In the next few months, for example, the fleet will be supplemented by 15 VW Golf BlueMotions and 50 Ford Focus ECOnetics. The cars’ consumption and emission figures are well over ten per cent lower than for the conventional models. CO² emissions with the Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion are a mere 119 g/km, and consumption is 4.5 litres per 100 km. With the Ford Focus ECOnetic, the corresponding figures are 115 g/km and 4.3 litres. The average consumption of all vehicles in Krones’ fleet, including trucks, vans and minibuses, is less than 7.2 litres per 100 km, and can thus be described as exemplary.

21.07.2008