Coventry City Council is due to take delivery of six new Mercedes-Benz Econics after being impressed with the examples already on its fleet. All are 6x2 2630L variants with 299hp engines and six-speed Allison gearboxes.
The new units have been specified with rear-steer axles for extra manoeuvrability, and Dennis Eagle bodies with triple bin lifts.
Tasked with replacing older Econics that have served the city for around ten years, five of the new vehicles have been assigned to collecting recyclables, while the sixth will work on a commercial waste contract.
The Econic’s flat-floored cab provides easy accessibility for the crew, while its deep wrap-around windscreen, and fully glazed folding side door improves vision towards vulnerable road users.
Standard safety features include Active Brake Assist 4, a blind spot camera system, Sideguard Assist and adaptive cruise control.
Coventry City Council’s assistant fleet manager, Brian Martin, said that the authority “works hard to ensure we get good value from our fleet, and we have been very pleased with the Econic. With other vehicles, we’ve worked on a five-year replacement cycle. However, the Econic is noticeably more durable”.
Supplied by Midlands Truck & Van, the trucks were bought outright. Three Econics will arrive at the end of December, with the other half expected to arrive before the end of January.
