Geesink Norba partner in greenest bin lorry
By Simon Newsam
Veolia Environmental Services has joined Geesink Norba and Volvo Trucks to launch what promises to be the greenest refuse collection vehicle ever seen in Britain.
(l-r) Geesink Norba’s UK business director Geoff Rigg and chief executive officer Nandit Gandhi at the launch of the new vehicle in Westminster, London.
In a two-year pilot scheme, Veolia will be testing the vehicle that combines a diesel-electric hybrid engine, built by Volvo Trucks, with a fully electric body, built by Geesink Norba, the first time this highly energy-efficient combination has ever been used in this country.
Consequently, the vehicle has the potential to deliver huge fuel and cost savings and a major reduction in carbon emissions.
The trial in the Marylebone and Lisson Grove area of the City of Westminster will identify exactly what savings can be made in frontline operation in a densely populated, urban environment. A similar vehicle already operating in Sweden has shown savings of around 30% on fuel and carbon emissions compared to standard diesel-powered vehicles.
The vehicle is driven by ‘parallel hybrid technology’ meaning it has two separate energy sources – one a diesel engine and the other an electric motor – which can be used either separately or together. The benefit of this is that each energy source can be used where it is most efficient: the electric motor at low revs and the diesel engine at high revs. It also means that it is appreciably quieter to drive than a conventional diesel vehicle.
When starting off from rest, only the electric motor is working. At higher speeds the diesel engine is activated and the two work together. At normal road speeds, the diesel engine provides power like a traditional truck. At low speeds it behaves more like an electric vehicle. During braking, the electric motor works as an engine brake, reducing brake wear and recovering braking energy.
The bin lifts and the crushing and compaction mechanisms, which handle the refuse in the body of the vehicle, and the tipping mechanisms for removing the refuse are all electrically powered from a separate battery mounted behind the cab.
The engine plays no part in loading and can even be switched off instead of being revved-up as it is in a conventional vehicle, which creates major savings in fuel and carbon emissions. It also results in a further reduction of noise levels, the sound of a large diesel engine being replaced by the hum of an electric motor, which benefits residents and the vehicle’s operators alike.
Normally, the battery will contain enough electricity to comfortably power the crushing and compaction mechanisms throughout the most demanding of rounds. However, should it ever need it, the battery can easily be recharged by power take-off through the hybrid engine. At the end of the round it can also simply be recharged by plugging it into a mains power supply ready for the next day’s work.
Veolia Environmental Services’ chief executive officer, Jean-Dominique Mallet, commented: “As the UK’s leading waste management company, our objective is to explore and develop the greenest technologies and we have an enviable track record in pioneering the latest advancements in carbon-cutting and efficiency-maximising technology.
“We see the benefits for residents as being two-fold: firstly the environmental benefits in terms of carbon emissions and secondly the reduction in noise pollution. We hope the relative silence is golden!
“We are proud to be making history in our industry by introducing the hybrid vehicle into our prestigious Westminster contract and we firmly believe that the trial will prove to be highly successful in achieving its goals.”
Councillor Danny Chalkley, Westminster Council’s cabinet member for city management, said: “This is the greenest bin lorry in the country and we are proud that we are the first city in Britain to take it up. We have led the way on electric car
(l-r) Goran Nyberg, managing director of Volvo Group UK, Geesink Norba’s chief executive officer Nandit Gandhi, Councillor Danny Chalkley, Westminster Council
charging points, so ensuring our own fleet adopts the very latest technology is the logical progression for us.
“We want clean streets, clean air and a clean environment and this trial recognises the potential that hybrid-fuelled vehicles will play in the future and demonstrates our commitment to improving the environment.”
Volvo Trucks managing director, Göran Nyberg, says: “We are particularly proud that Veolia Environmental Services, which is an international company renowned for its emphasis on the development and fostering of green technology, is among the first to harness the benefits of the Volvo Trucks FE hybrid refuse collection vehicle.
He added: “The company has been studying hybrid technology since the 1980s and has had an advanced engineering project under way since 2002: The latest FE Hybrid represents a significant stride forward for environmentally-friendly automotive technology. Caring for the environment is one of Volvo’s core values. Volvo Trucks were the first to have a carbon neutral truck manufacturing plant and we even use an underground river to cool our cab factory in Sweden.
“Now, as fuel prices have increased to around 35% of transport operating costs and awareness of climate change grows, everyone is asking what solution vehicle manufacturers can offer? We believe that the Volvo FE Hybrid is definitely part of that solution.”
Geesink Norba chief executive officer Nandit Gandhi said: “Geesink Norba continues their pioneering efforts in the Hybrid Technology to provide leading edge solutions in the waste management field, partnering with our customers. The plug-in electric body has been developed for all the major products in all sizes across Geesink Norba’s UK range and it is designed to fit any chassis.
“We’ve worked very closely with our colleagues in Veolia and Volvo to enable this landmark vehicle to be produced and we’re confident that it will be a huge success here in Westminster and will play a key role in the green revolution sweeping through our industry.”
Tags: diesel-electric, Geesink Norba, Geoff Rigg, hybrid engine, Nandit Gandhi, Plug-in Electric, RCVs, refuse collection vehicles, Veolia, Volvo Trucks
