Waste management firm Veolia is to trial a new Volvo FE hybrid refuse truck in Westminster as part of its ongoing strategy to reduce total fleet emissions.
During a two-year pilot scheme, Veolia will assess the operational performance of the diesel-electric FE, the first of its kind in the UK, in the Marylebone and Lisson Grove areas.
Jean-Dominique Mallet, chief executive officer Veolia Environmental Services, says: "We see the benefits for residents as two-fold: firstly the environmental benefits in terms of carbon emissions and, secondly, the reduction in noise pollution.
"With the Volvo FE hybrid we expect to see a 30% reduction over standard diesel-powered vehicles in CO2 emissions and about £20,000 off the bottom line over the typical seven-year operational cycle. If the trial is successful it will pave the way for further 'greening' of our fleet."
The Euro-5 compliant FE is driven by an electric motor or conventional diesel engine or, in some cases, both. At low revs, or below 10mph, the truck is driven solely by the battery, making it ideal for this particular job application. At higher speeds the 7-litre diesel engine takes over from the lithium-ion batteries, which get recharged when the driver decelerates.
Rob Stubbs, fleet director Veolia, says: "The hybrid system is whisper quiet and the engine switches off completely when it's in battery mode. The Geesink Norba body is also electric, which will reduce fuel consumption and emissions even further as there's no need for a power takeoff. The compactor's batteries are charged via the mains and it has a total volume of 17m³ and payload of 9.6 tonnes."
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