Lewisham Council has taken delivery of a second Mercedes-Benz Econic refuse truck with Geesinknorba plug-in electric body to compact and remove waste from its local market.
The 4x2 Econic 1830, on an 18-tonne chassis supplied by Marshall Truck and Van, is the subject of a contract hire agreement with NRG Fleet Services, an established supplier to Lewisham Council. It is powered by an 299hp engine and includes a driver’s door which is higher and opens more widely than previous models, as well as a re-profiled floor that makes cross-cab access easier.
Conventional refuse vehicles rely on their diesel engines to provide the power for bin-lifting, and the crushing and compaction cycle, but Geesinknorba’s electric body fulfils these tasks quietly and with the potential for zero carbon emissions.
Noel Everest, Lewisham Council’s service group manager for passenger and fleet services, said: “Our local markets are thriving, but because they’re in busy, high street locations they pose difficulties in terms of waste collection and removal services.
"We ruled out trucks with engine-driven bodies because they have to tick over all day to power the compactor, with resulting increases in local emissions. The plug-in body is an ideal solution, as it means the vehicle effectively acts as a mobile compactor skip.
"The body runs on electric power so is very quiet, and when it’s full - which is usually by lunchtime - the driver can leave the market with relative ease to tip.
"The Econic then returns and remains on site, typically until 7.30pm, at which point it comes back to the depot for the body to be recharged overnight.”
