Cookie Consent by Free Privacy Policy website Green, safe, efficient vehicles for city centre operations: AWS Abfallwirtschaft Stuttgart invests in natural gas drive
febbraio 24, 2017 - Mercedes-Benz

Green, safe, efficient vehicles for city centre operations: AWS Abfallwirtschaft Stuttgart invests in natural gas drive

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  • Official commissioning of the vehicles on 23 February 2017 in Stuttgart
  • Natural gas drive helps to ensure clean, quiet waste disposal operations in the city
  • Premiere for the new natural gas engine in the #mercedesbenz 936 engine family
  • Comprehensive range of #safety equipment: Active Brake Assist 3, Lane Keeping Assist, Stability Control Assist and Emergency Brake Assist, rain/light sensor
  • Positive experience with natural gas-powered Econic NGT waste collection vehicles – additional costs offset after around 3.5 years

Stuttgart – Seven #mercedesbenz Econic NGT (Natural Gas Technology) models with an environmentally friendly natural gas drive system and extensive #safety features are set to take over waste collection and disposal duties in the city of Stuttgart, the regional capital of Baden-Württemberg. The official commissioning of the vehicles took place on 23 February 2017 at the AWS operations site in Burgholzstraße in Stuttgart-Münster. Peter Bauer, Head of Product Management Econic, #mercedesbenz Special Trucks unit, handed over the seven Econic NGT models to Dr Thomas Heß, CEO of the local authority-owned enterprise AWS Abfallwirtschaft Stuttgart, and Dirk Thürnau, Technical Mayor of the City of Stuttgart. The new natural-gas vehicles have already proven their worth during trials that have been running in Stuttgart for the past six weeks.

"The purchase of the latest generation of the #mercedesbenz Econic NGT is of particular importance for #mercedesbenz Trucks. The regional ties to Stuttgart play just as big as role as AWS's long and intensive relationship with #mercedesbenz products," stated Dr Ralf Forcher, Head of Marketing, Sales and Services #mercedesbenz Special Trucks. Since the market launch of the Econic in 1998, the regional capital has pursued an ongoing policy of purchasing Econic vehicles to replace its conventional waste disposal vehicles. Now the Econic NGT is joining AWS's waste disposal fleet in Stuttgart for the first time.

AWS Stuttgart has been involved with the Econic and Econic NGT from the outset as a development partner. The local authority-owned enterprise has provided some valuable suggestions on the specific operational requirements for the waste disposal vehicle of the future. Econic product manager Peter Bauer confirms that this forward-thinking investment will make an important contribution towards ensuring a positive environmental track record. The key reason behind this lies in the innovative drive technology with economical fuel consumption combined with very low CO2 and noise emissions.

"AWS is taking on the issue of fine dust emissions in Stuttgart," stated AWS CEO Dr Thomas Heß. "And we are delighted that, when it comes to tackling the issue of exhaust gases and increasing #safety in our extremely emission-laden city centre, we have an outstanding partner in #mercedesbenz Special Trucks."

Agile, low-emission vehicles for Stuttgart

With their 3900 mm wheelbase, AWS Stuttgart's new, full air suspension Econic NGT waste collection vehicles are extremely agile. This is an immensely important advantage when it comes to busy urban traffic in Stuttgart's city centre. They have a permissible GVW of 26 t, which is identical to the diesel variant of the Econic.

The Econic vehicles with natural gas engine boast very low nitrogen oxide, particulate and noise emissions. The pass-by noise emissions of the Econic measured in Stuttgart at 78 dBA are audibly lower than those of a Euro VI diesel engine, which have been measured at 80 dBA. The tank holds up to 600 l of natural gas, allowing high ranges for daily waste collection operations.

For the first time the seven new Econic NGT models in Stuttgart feature the new Euro VI M 936 G natural gas engine with a displacement of 7.7 l and a powerful output of 222 kW (302 hp). The configuration of the fuel-efficient BlueTec in-line 6-cylinder engine is, in many respects, identical to that of a conventional diesel engine; however, the natural gas engine in the Econic NGT burns a prepared mixture of natural gas and air rather than a diesel/air mix.

Because combustion of the alternative fuel natural gas by the monovalent, innovative Econic natural gas engine produces virtually no particulate or fine dust emissions, compliance with Euro VI limit values can be achieved without the need for SCR technology with AdBlue, post-injection processes and particulate filters for exhaust gas cleaning. The CO2 emissions measured during AWS Stuttgart's operations are actually around 23 percent lower than those of a Euro VI diesel engine, and where biogas is used, it is possible to reduce CO2 levels even further.

Tax relief on natural gas until 2026 means additional costs can be offset in around 3.5 years

The German cabinet's decision to extend tax relief on natural gas as a fuel until 2026 has provided a boost to the market for climate-friendly natural gas drive systems in Germany: the additional expense involved in purchasing the Econic NGT is offset by lower fuel prices, that means that purchasers will continue to enjoy this benefit for some time to come. "Despite the higher cost of purchasing a natural gas-powered waste collection vehicle, the saving on fuel bills that can be achieved with a complete switch from diesel to natural gas is going to offset our additional costs after around three and a half years," concluded Dr Heß.

Econic acts as a #safety benchmark

The low positioned driver's cab with panoramic windscreen, large windows on the driver's side plus a fully glazed folding door on the co-driver's side ensures that the driver enjoys optimum visibility . The large field of view and the low sitting position allow the driver to have direct eye contact with other road users, in particular more vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.

The #safety equipment on the Stuttgart NGT vehicles includes numerous systems which set new standards when it comes to preventing traffic accidents: Stability Control Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Emergency Brake Assist, the latest-generation Active Brake Assist (ABA 3) and a rain/light sensor are just a few examples. In addition, the Econic NGT features disk brakes all round, an immobiliser plus a central locking system with remote control.

As an option the Econic NGT can be equipped with additional innovative #safety technologies and assistance systems to enhance road #safety. These include adaptive cruise control to prevent rear-end collisions plus Sideguard Assist.

High operational efficiency

At AWS Stuttgart operational #safety, efficient processes and good working conditions for the driver are paramount. To increase operational efficiency in summer and in winter, it is vital to ensure pleasant climate conditions in the driver's cab. Air conditioning with a pollen filter is therefore a must in AWS Stuttgart's new Econic NGT, as is a further innovation: the new Truma natural gas auxiliary heating system which, with seven weight-optimised steel composite gas bottles, not only delivers a constant supply to the heating system, whether the vehicle is stationary or mobile, but also offers a payload advantage of 400 kg.

The AWS drivers particularly appreciate the wide opening angle of the driver's door and the low entry, which has just two steps. These design highlights of the Econic NGT allow comfortable access and significantly reduce the risk of injury when exiting the cab. The generous interior dimensions of the cab allow for a row of four seats and offer plenty of stowage space for equipment and weatherproof clothing for the driver and crew. A switch on the B-pillar which operates the folding door on the co-driver's side is another new, comfort-enhancing feature. Other new additions include a refuse program with automatic shift into neutral and the bodybuilder emergency stop switch in the instrument support. Fitting an Eco package limits the vehicle speed to 85 km/h with constant acceleration, which simulates a three-quarters load status and locks the kickdown function.