Reigate & Banstead Borough City Council Adds 11 New Mercedes-Benz Econic 2630L Refuse & Recycling Trucks To Fleet
The Reigate & Banstead Borough City Council in Surrey recently added 11 new Mercedes-Benz Econics to its fleet of 35 refuse and recycling trucks. Part of a £3.6 million investment in cleaner vehicles, the 26-tonne Econic 2630Ls feature 7.7-litre, 299-metric-horsepower (220-kilowatt) engines and Allison six-speed automatic transmissions. They have Dennis Eagle Olympus Twin Pack compaction bodies with separate compartments and tailgates to collect “two different waste streams…in a single trip without risk of cross-contamination,” Mercedes-Benz explains.
The new Econics also have electric OmniDEL triple bin lifts that can reduce fuel consumption by as much as 12% and a Wabco TailGUARD Rear Blind Spot Detection System that can automatically brake if it detects potential collisions with pedestrians, stationary objects, and more. Other safety features include Active Brake Assist 4 with emergency braking and pedestrian detection, and a panoramic windscreen that offers enhanced visibility.
A Smoothly Managed Order
“Emissions and fuel efficiency were key to this order, and the Econic engine is the right size for our application. The vehicle also enjoys an excellent reputation for reliability and competitive running costs, while I know from previous experience that Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ Service 24h emergency roadside backup is fantastic,” says City Council Transport Manager Anthony Hathaway. “The delivery service is very good, and the minor warranty issues that have cropped up were all dealt with very promptly. Dennis Eagle and City West Commercials have worked really well together, so that from our perspective this order has been managed very smoothly.”
More On The Econic
The versatile Econic platform is highly configurable, with four axle variants ranging from 18 to 32 t in gross weight. It comes in low and high cab versions with wheelbases of 3,450 to 5,700 millimetres. Either the leading or the trailing axles can be steerable, and each axle has a full air suspension that is adjustable for height.
Mercedes-Benz outfits the Econic line with inline six-cylinder engines. Diesel-burning models range from 272 to 354 hp (203 to 260 kW). An alternative that runs on natural gas or biogas produces 302 hp (225 kW) and comes with a low 80 dB(A) noise rating. Besides the Allison automatic mentioned above, Mercedes offers the Econic with a semi-automated PowerShift transmission with 12 forward and four reverse gears.
Find The Right Mercedes-Benz
You will find hundreds of new and used Mercedes-Benz trucks for sale on Truck Locator, including not only Econics, but also Actros, Arocs, Atego, and Axor models.