Bywaters signs unique vehicle deal with Volvo
Bywaters, which is based in East London, will take order of 52 specialist Volvo FL, FE and FM recycling vehicles, with a mixture of hook-loaders, refuse collection vehicles and skip loaders. In addition to the vehicles, the two companies will enter a close working relationship over the next five years to ensure that vehicles are maintained to the highest standard, while emissions are reduced. The partnership agreement is known as a total offer.
Further to the work with Volvo, Volvo Truck and Bus Centre London will be responsible for the maintenance of the Incomol and Multilift bodywork on the trucks on a preventive maintenance contract. The work will be carried out at their Barking Dealerpoint to reduce empty running and emissions.
Automotive Council launches low-carbon strategy
The joint industry and government Automotive Council has launched a long-term strategy for helping manufacturers of commercial vehicles and construction equipment to adopt low carbon methods.
The roadmap, which is the first of its kind to be published in Europe, outlines the drivers and timescales of technology development across the sector from delivery vans to bulldozers. These technologies include hybridisation, more efficient powertrains and alternative fuels. It is intended to be a useful tool in determining research priorities as well as helping vehicle manufacturers and the supply chain draft long-term business plans.
Business Secretary and co-chair of the Automotive Council, Vince Cable, said: Work on lowering carbon emissions from cars is well underway. Now we need to look at other parts of the sector and how they can help meet our long term obligations on CO2 and air quality targets. This roadmap will help companies make the right investment choices as well as promote UK innovation and technology.
BAE signs strategic alliance with Dennis Eagle
Multinational defence specialists BAE Systems has signed a strategic agreement with refuse vehicle manufacturer Dennis Eagle to integrate a heavy-duty hybrid electric propulsion system into its low-entry cab vehicles.
The alliance will perform a field trial programme during 2011 with a view to Dennis Eagle offering HybriDrive powered vehicles to the market by the end of 2012. This alliance will introduce the use of BAE Systems HybriDrive parallel system into the European refuse collection vehicle market and represents the first phase of a broader strategic initiative to address a range of heavy-duty truck uses such as the construction industry, and package and delivery. The development is intended to complement and draw upon the companys HybriDrive series system, currently deployed in over 3,000 transit buses across North America and Europe.
We are pleased to be selected by Dennis Eagle to provide HybriDrive propulsion systems for their RCV family, broadening our expansion in the hybrid vehicle market, said Dr.Mike Mekhiche, programme director of power and energy management for BAE Systems. Both companies are leaders in our respective markets and our alliance will maximise our respective synergies, bringing a high performance product and all the associated environmental and economic benefits to the RCV market.
Grundon claims emissions reduction in hydrogen trial
Waste management firm Grundon has reported a 40% reduction in emissions across a range of vehicles in its waste collection fleet following a trial using a hydrogen generator.
The Berkshire-based company tested the use of the h2gogo HRN3 Hydrogen Generator, which can be retrofitted to petrol and diesel vehicles and produces hydrogen on demand to increase the efficiency of the fuel burn. The units were fitted to three of Grundons vehicle fleet, including a trade waste collection vehicle with automatic transmission, a Rolonof truck featuring a different engine and manual transmission, as well as a tractor unit with automated manual transmission pulling a powder tank of up to 44 tonnes. The units were all trialled under typical operational conditions over a six week period. The company said that, throughout the trial period, the vehicles achieved a reduction in CO2, HC and NOx emissions of up to 40%.
Stephen Townsend, Grundons group fleet engineer, said: We are continually looking for ways to reduce the environmental impact of our commercial vehicle fleet and have been impressed with the h2gogo technology from the outset. Performance expectations have been exceeded and the technology has proven without doubt that we can benefit from long term emissions reduction across our vehicle.
Construction waste specialist adopts lightweight body vehicles
Construction waste management specialists PP OConnor has made moves to increase its overall payload by adopting a light-weight body vehicle and newly-designed lifting equipment.
The first of five single-skin Taperlite bodies, which has European Design Registration, has been built for the Manchester-based demolition and earthworks company. Fitted to a Scania P400 8×4 chassis cab, supplied by Scania dealers West Pennine Trucks, it will enable PP OConnor to operate with a payload of more than 20- tonnes. The design integrates an Edbro CX14 lifting cylinder to provide weight and space saving, which the equipment manufacturer claims could benefit companies by as much as 1380 of additional income-a-year or savings of 8,280 over the average six-year lifetime of a typical chassis.
Our company has used Edbro gear for over 30 years and have never had a problem, said Peter OConnor, of PP OConnor. We knew that the CX14 is extremely lightweight and durable and would improve the overall performance of our vehicles, providing a fantastic opportunity to increase payload and improve the profitability of jobs. We will almost certainly be ordering more CX14s in the future.
Subscribe for free