The company Herko, founded in 2021 by BeGas and Leciñen, will start serial production of zero-emission trucks in September at a plant in Zierbena (Vizcaya), which has involved an investment of approximately 15 million euros. The goal is to produce 136 units this year and manufacture 1,000 vehicles in three years.
In an event held at the AIC in Amorebieta (Biscay), BeGas and Leciñena presented Herko, a company based in the Basque Country and financed 100% by national capital.
It will be dedicated to the manufacture of zero net emissions light trucks powered by bioautogas. A further step towards the goal of doing away with traditional fuels in this type of vehicle.
An efficient and cost-effective solution
The objective is to offer companies with fleet management needs the "most efficient and cost-effective" sustainable solution for their last mile delivery needs in cities and urban services.
Together 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.
Europe's first truck powered by bioautogas
This vehicle is the first one manufactured in Europe with an engine 100% powered by bioautogas, an alternative fuel that, according to the company, reduces carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 80% and other polluting gases and particles by 90%, generating a "practically neutral" carbon footprint.
According to Herko's managers, it is the "only solution" available on the market that allows logistics companies "to comply with the demanding environmental standards of the EU without sacrificing profitability or competitiveness".
"The 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 the Low Emission Zones of the cities," they added.
Large backlog of zero-emission trucks
The first light truck model already has 30 units pre-sold, among other customers, to Urbaser and Cepsa, which will be delivered in the coming months. In addition, they have received purchase intentions for more than 650 vehicles, for which they have expressed their satisfaction with the reception among their customers, also from other countries, although, in a first phase, their market is Spain.
In statements to Europa Press, Herko's general manager, Agustín Leal, explained that the first units have been manufactured at the BeGas facilities "statically and manually" and, as of September, a mass production phase will begin at 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, after an investment of 15 million euros.
Herko Bios 35 truck
In total, this year they expect to manufacture 136 units of Herko Bios 35, since in addition to the 30 units mentioned above, the 100 units that will already be produced at this plant will be added. The objective is for the company to manufacture 1,000 units in three years and, specifically, by 2024 it is estimated that 240 trucks will be produced, although the plant will have the capacity to produce 3,000 units per year, which they hope to be able to achieve "soon".
The truck offers a range equal to or greater than that of a passenger car powered by traditional fuel (about 800 kilometers without refueling) and has more than 860 refueling 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 much more payload than all competitors, it weighs less so we can carry more cargo," Leal said.
The company, in the process of hiring personnel, will have 25 people on staff in March and, in total, expects to generate 70 direct jobs and another 150.
