The company Herko, founded in 2021 by BeGas and Leciñen, will begin mass production of zero-emission trucks in September at a plant in Zierbena (Vizcaya) that has entailed an investment of approximately 15 million euros. The objective is to produce 136 units this year and manufacture 1,000 vehicles in three years.
At an event held at the AIC in Amorebieta (Vizcaya), BeGas and Leciñena presented Herko, a company based in the Basque Country and 100% financed by national capital.
It will be dedicated to the manufacture of light trucks with zero net emissions powered by bioautogas. One more step towards the goal of ending traditional fuels in this type of vehicle.
An efficient and profitable solution
The objective is to offer companies with fleet management needs the “most efficient and profitable” sustainable solution for their last-mile delivery needs in
cities and urban services.
Along with BeGas and Leciñena, these institutions are partners of Herko, as well as Itzarri EPSV de Empleo and the private investment funds Easo Ventures and Full Global Investments.
The first European truck powered by bioautogas
This vehicle is the first one manufactured in Europe with an engine 100% powered by bioautogas, an alternative fuel that, as they have pointed out, reduces carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 80% and other polluting gases and particles by 90%, generating a “practically neutral” carbon footprint.
According to those responsible for Herko, it is the “only solution” available on the market that allows logistics companies to “comply from today with the demanding environmental standards of the EU without sacrificing profitability or competitiveness.”
“Zero-emission trucks have all the most demanding environmental certificates, such as ECO DGT and Euro VI Step E, which allows them to circulate without restrictions in Low Emission Zones in cities,” they added.
Large order book for zero-emission trucks
The first light truck model already has 30 units pre-sold, among other clients, to Urbaser and Cepsa, and will be delivered in the coming months. In addition, they have received purchase intentions for more than 650 vehicles, so they have expressed their satisfaction with the reception among their clients, also from other countries, although, in a first phase, their market is Spain.
In statements to Europa Press, the general manager of Herko, Agustín Leal, has explained that the first units have been manufactured in the BeGas facilities “statically and manually” and, from September, a phase of serial manufacturing will begin in another location and with an industrialized process.
Specifically, Herko will have a plant in Zierbena (Bizkaia), where it will carry out the manufacture of this model from the aforementioned month, after an investment of 15 million euros.
Herko truck Bios 35
In total, they expect to manufacture 136 Herko Bios 35 units this year, as the 30 mentioned will be joined by the 100 that will already be produced in this plant. The objective is for the company to manufacture 1,000 units in three years and, specifically, for 2024, production of 240 trucks is estimated, although the plant will have the capacity to produce 3,000 units per year, which they hope to be able to reach “soon”.
The truck offers a range equal to or greater than that of a car powered by traditional fuel (about 800 kilometres without needing to refuel) and has more than 860 refuelling points in Spain and more than 46,000 in the European Union.
The Herko Bios has a payload capacity of 1.5 tons. “It is a light truck, which is very important because it allows for a much larger payload than all of its competitors, and it weighs less, which means we can carry more cargo,” said Leal.
The company, which is currently recruiting staff, will have 25 people on staff in March and, in total, expects to generate 70 direct jobs and another 150.
