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Truck and Track June/July 2017 28
CONTRACTS & ORDERS – HIGHLIGHTS
Theworld’s first dual-fuel RCVs, each running on a combination
of diesel and hydrogen, and equipped with a fully automatic
Allison transmission, are now in service in Scotland. This
new initiative by Fife Council is expected to reduce tailpipe
emissions, cut vehicle running costs and reduce engine noise,
whilemaking the vehicles easier and safer for crews to operate.
The dual-fuel technology enables hydrogen to be injected in
the air inlet and then mixed with diesel and used directly in the
combustion engine. Volumes of compressed hydrogen are stored in
350-bar tanks fitted to the left side of the chassis.
At a time when local authorities throughout the UK are under great
financial pressure, Fife Council decided to purchase two dual-fuel
RCVs after assessing total lifecycle value costs of the vehicles. As
part of an overall procurement process, six additional diesel fuel
RCVs equipped with Allison transmissions were also acquired.
All eight of Fife Council’s new RCVs are based on the 26t Mercedes-
Benz Econic chassis, with identical Heil PowerLink bodies and
Terberg bin lifters. The Econic is powered by the 7.7-litre, six-
cylinder, Mercedes OM 936 LA engine, which delivers 220-260
kW (299-354 HP) through Allison’s 3000 Series™ six-speed fully
automatic transmission. The vehicles will operate on demanding
stop-start routes every Monday to Friday for 15 hours a day.
“Todecidewhichvehiclesarebestsuitedtoouroperations,weassess
a multitude of data and historical evidence, including evaluation
of our own vehicles over many years of in-house service,” Robin
O’Connell of Fife Council told us. “Since the capital budget for our
vehicle replacement program was drastically reduced three years
ago, it has become even more important that our new vehicles are
fit-for-purpose with excellent longevity.”
“Sweating these assets is the key to achieving our newfleet strategy
– vehicles must last longer before there’s need for replacement,”
explained O’Connell. “This has increased the need to use more
quality vehicle products and their associated components, such as
Allison transmissions, to reduce the risk of early issues arising in our
new fleet.”
Allison’s fully automatic transmission will make the new RCVs
safer for crews, allowing the driver to focus on traffic without
the distraction of manually engaging a clutch or changing gears.
Allison’s Continuous Power Technology™ is claimed to ensure
superior vehicle manoeuvrability and control when inching along
congested traffic and on narrow roads.
Hydrogen Econic RCVs rely upon Allison transmissions
Fife Council hydrogen Econic
Founded in 1955, Buckingham Plant
Hire and its sister company Buckingham
Group Contracting (incorporated 1987)
run a fleet of over 200 construction
machines. Now Buckingham Plant Hire
cites performance and dealer support
in its decision to take a Volvo FH16-
750 Tridem 8x4 heavy haul tractor unit
from the Volvo Truck and Bus Centre at
Milton Keynes, where it is on a Gold r&m
contract.
Thenewtruck,equippedwithaGlobetrotter
XL cab, is already in service transporting the
company’s civil engineering equipment to
customers. The vehicle delivers and collects
plant nationwide and is expected to cover
some 100,000 km a year. Buckingham
Plant Hire envisages keeping the truck for
ten years or one million km.
Plant Director Mick Tye makes the point:
“Maintaining good relationships with our
suppliers is key to enabling us to meet our
customer offering. In this regard I would say we enjoy outstanding
product support from Volvo, the performance of the truck is
excellent, and the strong residual value of Volvo simply makes good
business sense.”
And when it comes to performance, the driver Steve Bowman has
nothing but praise for the new STGO Cat.3-plated Volvo FH16-
750 Tridem tractor unit. “The driving environment is the best I’ve
ever experienced, and the power is phenomenal. I’ve stepped up to
this truck from our previous 610HP FH16 6x2, and the difference
between the two is far greater than I could ever have anticipated.
The new truck is so powerful that it feels equivalent to having two
610HP engines in my old FH!”
As well as power, Bowman is equally impressed by the Volvo engine
brake offering some 375 kW of retardation: “The engine brake is an
amazing bit of kit. It inspires absolute confidence that, even when
fully loaded, you’ll be able to stop at the bottom of a hill with cool
brakes.”
The sole mover of Buckingham Group’s construction equipment,
the Volvo FH16-750 is coupled to a Nooteboom Euro 83 four-axle
extendable low loader with steering axles, the combination being
plated for operation up to 125t gcw. The 700-litre fuel tanks, infill,
lockers, aluminiumwings and catwalk have all been fabricated and
fitted by SB Components of Wisbech, who also fitted the Trux grille
guard.
Volvo FH16-750 Tridem just the job for STGO Cat.3 work
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