Urbaser is a world chief in waste administration that focuses on environmental options and constructing a round economic system. It employs greater than 40,000 staff at 150 amenities in 19 international locations, serving the wants of greater than 70 million folks. Right this moment, it has added 5 eEconic battery-electric waste hauling vehicles from Mercedes-Benz to its fleet to serve the wants of the Danish metropolis of Aarhus on the east coast of Jutland.
The eEconic is an electrical model of the Mercedes Econic line of low entry vehicles which have been assembly the wants of municipalities since 1998. On its web site, Mercedes says cities and cities are rising, which locations rising calls for on mobility, logistics, the surroundings, and high quality of life issues. The eEconic is a industrial automobile that may meet all these challenges.
It’s highly effective and environment friendly, whereas additionally providing elevated security for all street customers. It delivers sustainable options to the rising emissions burden in city areas. With its totally electrical drive system, the eEconic represents the logical improvement of the trusted Econic and is the right automobile selection for municipal operations in city environments.
Urbaser is already utilizing a fleet of practically 50 eEconic battery-electric waste hauling vehicles in Danish cities corresponding to Copenhagen and Vejle. It has not too long ago positioned an order for 50 extra, which is able to carry its fleet in that nation to virtually 100 vehicles.
The place To Cost Electrical Vans?
Naturally, electrical vehicles must have their batteries recharged at common intervals. Mercedes says the conventional each day route for every truck is 100 kilometers or much less, so lengthy vary is just not the essential issue. Having the electrical vehicles charged up and able to work within the morning is the first concern.
Recharging might be executed “gently” in a single day on the firm’s depot without having for costly DC quick charging tools. The vehicles have one other benefit as properly. Regenerative braking recaptures a few of the kinetic vitality of the shifting automobiles after they decelerate and cease. That regen helps to cut back the whole quantity of electrical energy that must be replenished in a single day.
Electrical drivetrains are perfect for heavy automobiles that cease and begin a whole lot of occasions a day, as a result of the electrical motors present an abundance of torque at 0 rpm. Diesel engines are famend for his or her torque at low engine speeds, however they can not match electrical motors on the subject of getting a industrial automobile shifting from relaxation.
Regenerative braking additionally significantly reduces put on and tear on mechanical braking programs. The mixture of decrease gasoline prices and fewer upkeep prices are music to a fleet supervisor’s ears. There might be no larger endorsement for electrical vehicles than the choice by Urbaser to order 50 extra eEconic vehicles from Mercedes.
Franziska Cusumano, head of Mercedes-Benz’ particular vehicles and customized tailor-made vehicles division, stated in a press launch, “Our eEconic for municipal duties is being utilized in an increasing number of cities as a regionally carbon impartial various in waste disposal. We’re more than happy that Urbaser, as a worthwhile buyer on this subject of utility from the very starting, is totally happy with the battery electrical refuse assortment automobile.”
Stefan Olin, CEO at Urbaser, added, “Our first experiences with the eEconic have been actually good. The vary can also be greater than sufficient for lengthy runs of over 100 km, round eight working hours and the emptying of as much as 500 containers. The decisive consider our firm’s resolution to go along with the eEconic was the mixture of the acquainted low entry idea, the excessive degree of security, and the lengthy vary.”
Weight & Battery Specs
With the eEconic, Mercedes-Benz has ushered in a brand new period. The low flooring truck with a gross weight score of 27 tons and an e-axle with built-in drive unit in addition to two electrical motors is predicated on the eActros for heavy responsibility distribution haulage.
The eEconic batteries encompass three battery packs, every with an put in capability of 112 kWh and a usable capability of round 97 kWh. The electrical truck can cowl the overwhelming majority of typical Econic refuse assortment routes in single shift operation with out intermediate charging.
With an anticipatory driving model, recuperation may even get better electrical vitality. This can be a nice benefit, particularly as a part of the stop-and-go operation of refuse assortment. The interactive multimedia cockpit put in as customary within the eEconic offers steady data on the state of cost of the batteries, the remaining vary, and the present and common vitality consumption in kWh per 100 kilometers, amongst different knowledge.
The truck might be charged with as much as 160 kW of energy. The three battery packs of the eEconic require simply over an hour to cost from 20 to 80% at an ordinary DC quick charging station that may ship 400 amps of charging present.
Confirmed options of the traditional Econic are additionally a function of the eEconic. For instance, the low panoramic windscreen of the “DirectVision” cab, with its low seat place, affords the driving force direct visible contact with different street customers and offers a wonderful overview of the street visitors. The coated and heated Thermocontrol windshield prevents the windshield from misting up as a result of climate, which offers a transparent view of the visitors space. As well as, the windscreen reduces heating of the automobile inside by the solar’s rays.
The low flooring peak of the spacious cab makes for simple entry and exit for as much as 4 folks. The electrical drivetrain allows a degree cab flooring, which additionally makes it simpler to climb via the cab from one aspect to the opposite — a very helpful function if the driving force desires to exit on the aspect going through away from visitors via the folding door on the entrance passenger aspect.
So far as security tools is worried, the eEconic options Sideguard Help S1R for larger security when turning proper in addition to the fifth era Energetic Brake Help emergency braking system with pedestrian detection. As well as, an exterior Acoustic Car Alerting System is fitted as customary for improved audible notion by pedestrians or cyclists, for instance.
The Takeaway
Electrical vehicles are clearly the perfect answer for purposes that require heavy automobiles like waste-hauling vehicles that make a number of begins and stops in the course of the work day. When he was younger and silly, the writer (who’s not younger) invested in a startup firm that used hydraulic motors to recapture vitality for such vehicles. On the time, there have been no electrical vehicles obtainable, and battery-powered automobiles have been only a glean in Elon Musk’s eye.
The concept was sound from an engineering standpoint, however didn’t work properly in actual world purposes. The corporate went bankrupt. Battery-electric vehicles with regenerative braking are the logical successors to these early hydraulic schemes however with out the leaky plumbing and complicated management points. It’s chilly consolation for the writer to know he was forward of his time!
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