Green machines
With our ecosystem at stake, truck manufacturers coming up with new ideas for making our trucks eco-friendly. Let’s have a closer look at some impressive innovations.
DAF XF, XG, and XG+
”When dimensions are given space, something unique is born”
Complying with the new masses and dimensions regulations set by The European Commission, DAF is the first of all European truck manufacturers to introduce a full new generation of trucks featuring a highly attractive and very aerodynamic design, using the additional freedom offered by the new legislation. The boundaries were introduced with the objective to push the boundaries in terms of both emissions (CO2), traffic safety, and driver comfort.
International Truck of the Year 2022
The New XF, XG, and XG+ are the new generation of long-distance trucks. Taking full advantage of the new European Masses & Dimensions rules, all of the variants excel in a beautiful and highly aerodynamic design. In addition, they offer a huge interior space for driver comfort. The calling card of every transport operator.
New Generation DAF trucks are heavy players on the field, bringing game-changer moves with outstanding efficiency, safety, and driver comfort. In the light of their class-leading solutions, they have been awarded ‘International Truck of the Year 2022’ at the 2022 Road Transport Expo, the most prestigious recognition in the truck industry.
In our opinion, the New Generation XF, XG, and XG⁺ models deserve the medal, and they definitely look like they are ready for the future. Their stunning exterior is clearly the product of their aerodynamic design which is a useful attribute to have in the battle of fuel crisis across the globe. DAF met its development objective by introducing this new Generation of cabs. They are setting high new industry standards in efficiency, safety, and driver comfort.
DAF XF XG XG+
Dennis Eagle e-Collect
”Operationally-efficient and cost-effective eRCV”
A new model of the electric eCollect refuse collection vehicle has been launched by Dennis Eagle. The company felt the urge to meet the demand for a small zero-emissions refuse collection vehicle (RCV) that is suited to collection rounds in urban areas with restricted access. For this reason they chose the 18 tonne 4x2 model as the next eCollect RCV. The vehicle is the second configuration of the eRCV, originally launched in 2020.
Although the 4x2 eCollect is a smaller version of the original 6x2, it still has a 10m3 body capable of carrying 4.8 tonnes – exactly like its diesel equivalent. Like the 6x2, the vehicle has a narrow track chassis to provide ‘optimum maneuverability’, said Dennis Eagle at the Road Transport Expo earlier this year. His colleague also confirmed how the 4x2 eCollect is heavily based on the previous, bigger model. ‘A similar vehicle with a smaller footprint’. They aimed to keep all the functionality at the maximum but in a more eco-friendly package. It can be safe to say that by focusing on functionality, they designed the eCollect to be a low-emission vehicle. It an was extremely important objective for the company as their vehicles work around many places where air quality is already a severe issue, and it is being treated as a priority by their customers.
A cost-effective and operationally-efficient eRCV
The vehicle is fitted with three battery packs instead of five, with one centre pack and one pack on each side. Together they provide 180kWh of power - enough for a full day’s work on a typical double-shift round. It has the same 200kW electric drive as the original eCollect and the model requires an off-board charger that outputs a minimum of 600v DC via CCS2 connection, as per the 6x2 variant.The vehicle takes 3.5 hours to reach 100% after starting from around 15% residual charge. The cab is also the same 5-star
DVS- rated Elite 6 model, with room for the driver and up to three crew.
The eRCV is factory-fitted with the DE-Connect telematics system and has been put through comprehensive testing and homologation, Dennis Eagle said at RTX. After their first trials in Kensington and Chelsea, it returned with a typical value of 30-35% of its charge remaining. It traveled around 35 miles, a typical urban round route the eRCV was destined for. Dennis Eagle said the new eCollect has proven to complete its rounds quicker than comparable diesel vehicles, due to the better acceleration it has from a standstill.
To sum it up, we think this vehicle is worthy of all the praise, with the elimination of diesel vehicles in our close environment and excelling at low consumption and astonishing performance, this cab is a smooth touch after its predecessor the 6x2 model. Hopefully, we will see them on the roads very soon!
New Dennis Eagle e-Collect
SCANIA CNG powered trucks
“All the barriers to using gas is falling away..”
CNG Fuels and Waitrose introduced Europe’s most advanced fleet of CNG (compressed natural gas)-powered trucks with a 500-mile range. John Baldwin, managing director of CNG Services says: “Extending the ability of CNG trucks to 500 miles is a game-changer for road transport operators. Gas, particularly biomethane, is cleaner, quieter and, cheaper than diesel. We are now seeing all the barriers to using gas falling away. Everyone wins here and we look forward to more commissions to build filling stations across the UK.”
CEO of CNG Fuels, Philip Fjeld added: “These new trucks with high-pressure carbon-fiber fuel tanks demolish the ‘range anxiety’ concerns that have made many hauliers reluctant to move away from diesel to CNG.”
In cooperation with CNG Fuels, CSL (CNG Services Ltd) designed and built CNG Fuels’ Leyland CNG filling station, the first
high-pressure filling station in the UK. The station was opened in February 2016. Waitrose, part of the John Lewis Partnership, has a regional distribution centre less than one mile from the new CNG filling station and was the station’s core customer. The station allows the new vehicles to fill up on biomethane directly from the high-pressure transmission system.
A new range
Waitrose’s new Scania-built fleet uses twin carbon fiber tanks that store gas at 250 bar of pressure which increases their range to 500 miles. This new feature makes the trucks all the more attractive for customers as previously this range was limited to 300 miles. The trucks will refuel on biomethane CNG (Bio-CNG), which is the most cost-effective and lowest carbon alternative to diesel for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs).
Baldwin continues: “The UK has a uniquely attractive asset in the form of 10,000 KM of high-pressure gas grid that is located close to most major distribution depots. With significant quantities of biomethane now being injected into the gas grid, we can look to a future with Bio-CNG taking carbon out of road transport and improving air quality at the same time.”
SCANIA truck in Leyland- at the CNG filling station
RENAULT TRUCKS E-TECH D ELECTRIC
”The electric solution for urban deliveries”
Renault Trucks D E-Tech Electric is all about reducing CO2 emissions. The company put great value into innovative eco-friendly design as the demand for these eco vehicles crawls up. It is now a priority and many cities are adopting increasingly strict environmental regulations that manufacturers have to keep up with. Renault Trucks offer sustainable solutions adapted to vehicles’ operating constraints, particularly those using electric power. Delivering lower operating costs while maintaining its operating range and payload, the electric Renault Trucks offer a great switch to alternative cabs.
Operating range
Impressively, a full recharge takes less than two hours with a fast charge or overnight on a conventional industrial outlet. Renault Trucks D E-Tech and D Wide E-Tech adapt to all situations. A wide range of battery configurations to meet every kind of operational need
With Zero Tailpipe Emissions, these trucks are qualified to operate in Low Emission Zone (LEZ) and Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).
The all-electric E-Tech range received the ‘Technical Excellence Award’ at the 2021 Motor Transport Awards.
Without question, Renault’s innovation is a success that will positively shape future industry trends.
Renault E-Tech
Sources: https://cloud.3dissue.net/23598/38907/39307/76043/index.html?30616 https://www.daf.co.uk/en-gb/trucks/new-generation-daf https://www.commercialfleet.org/news/truck-news/2022/06/14/dennis-eagles-launches-electric-e-collect-refuse-truck https://www.cngservices.co.uk/2017/02/09/cng-services-welcomes-the-introduction-of-new-scania-trucks-at-cng-fuels-cng-filling-station-in-leyland/ https://www.renault-trucks.co.uk/product/renault-trucks-e-tech-d-electric
