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New Mercedes-Benz eEconic - Silent Knights!

A special vehicle business unit has emerged from the establishment of the Daimler Trucks & Bus brand, now separate from the Daimler AG Group. One of the first developments from this now independent commercial vehicle manufacturer is the all-electric eEconic Refuse Collection Vehicle (RCV). This zero-emission vehicle will eventually replace the diesel and natural gas powered versions currently on sale.

Featuring all the attributes of its internal combustion counterparts such as good ergonomics, high comfort levels, low entry cabs and lower seating levels, all of which lead to safer driving, the added bonus is that it’s emission free. The driver and three member crew also benefit from the low chassis, especially when stepping in and out often meaning no jumping is required! Other elements include the latest safety assist systems on board to ultimately protect vulnerable road users and other on-street motorists. A false engine noise and all around cameras also enhance the high tech on board.

Rolf Forcher, who leads up the Mercedes-Benz Trucks Special Division, speaking at the eEconics launch at the IFAT trade fair in Munich, said that sustainability was the key objective. He described the new battery power train as ‘a simple system’ that ‘operates during the early hours, charging during downtime in the evenings and into the night’.

The new eEconic is capable of doing a 9 hour shift or covering 100km, which is well within normal working operations. Two-thirds of the total energy used is through the actual propulsion of the vehicle, with the remainder centred on the electric refuse compactor application. Due to its overall silence in operation, Rolf highlighted that vehicles like this could enable night time collections to become the norm in cities and towns, as trialled in Frankfurt over recent months.

Sister truck to the award winning new eActros, three or four liquid cooled battery packs of 106kWh each provide the energy needed for the 6x2 - 26 tonne GVW unit, with 300kW or 400kW from the twin electric motors installed on each rear axle. DC fast charging is limited to 160kW capacity. Adaptable to other applications such as retail distribution, construction, fire fighting, road sweepers and recovery vehicles, eEconic meets all the criteria necessary to meet the stringent London Low Emission Zone and CLOCS/ FORS regulations.

The eEconic’s in-cab flat floor allows for easy walk through access and the large windscreen allows for an airy ambience, with the top section darkened to dilute the sun’s rays.

Pre-heating of the cabin and windscreen can be set in advance, which saves battery life. Good energy regeneration is achieved on deceleration and soft braking. When operating at speeds of under 30km/h, a false engine noise sounds to warn the vulnerable around or near the vehicle. In time, geofencing of

routes to obtain the ultimate in energy usage savings will be in place.

Drivers can choose three modes - Eco, Power and Municipal. Connectivity comes with two main services offered to ensure maintenance schedules are adhered to, while FleetBoard telematics/ fleet management programmes monitor battery and driver performances. In due course the latest MirrorCam will be fitted. It won’t be long either to wait for the hydrogen powered option. In the meantime, more than twenty units of the eEconic RCV will be out and about in customers’ hands, hitting the streets, doing what they do best, this time in silence, of course. Silent Knights!