Leeds Council steps on the gas with clean-burning Mercedes Econic

A gas-powered Mercedes-Benz Econic refuse truck is delivering a stunning 60 per cent reduction in carbon emissions, compared to a standard vehicle, for operator Leeds City Council.

The gas-fuelled Econic has already proved a hit in cities across Europe but forward-thinking Leeds is the first in the UK to add one to its refuse fleet.

The authority took the Econic 2628LLG on an initial, six-month trial basis but has since bought it. The truck’s performance in terms of fuel savings and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions will now be monitored by Leeds and the information shared with other local authorities.

Based on a standard 6x2 Econic chassis with steering rear axle, the truck is fitted with a purpose-built 279hp engine and special tanks to carry its compressed natural gas fuel; in other respects, the truck is no different to a standard, diesel-engined 26-tonner.

Terry Pycroft, Leeds City Council’s Head of Fleet Services, explains: “Like all local authorities we are striving to meet carbon reduction targets and we see this Mercedes Econic as offering the potential to make some very significant savings.”

Leeds City Council worked closely with the government-funded Energy Saving Trust to measure the carbon footprint of its 1,200-strong vehicle fleet, and identify areas where reductions could be made.

“This investigation showed that the biggest contributor to our carbon output was the refuse collection fleet,” says Mr Pycroft. “These trucks only average about 2.5mpg, because their engines are constantly running to drive the bin-lift and compaction equipment.

“The Trust’s report also contained some suggestions of ways to tackle our emissions, one of which was to look at alternative fuels, so we decided to investigate that avenue further.”

He continues: “Many local authorities are still sceptical about gas power after an earlier generation of vehicles, adopted by some councils in the 1990s, proved unreliable and uneconomical. But things have moved on since then, so we were not put off.”

Aware that European cities such as Milan were reporting great success with fleets of gas-powered Econics, Leeds City Council approached Mercedes-Benz UK and local dealer Northside Truck & Van to enquire about the possibility of obtaining a vehicle to trial. Both gave their enthusiastic support to the plan and a ‘provisional purchase’ arrangement, supported by Mercedes-Benz UK, was agreed. Britain’s first Econic 2628LLG was duly delivered to the local authority which, having operated it for six months on a trial basis, then purchased it outright.

“It went straight into service and is on the road now, hard at work collecting domestic waste from the streets of Leeds for delivery to our transfer station,” Mr Pycroft reports.

“It is also demonstrating to city residents the authority’s commitment to reducing our impact on the local environment, and hopefully showing that gas-powered vehicles can operate economically and fit into an overall waste collection strategy.”

The new truck burns bio-gas, produced from waste matter in the south of England. “Even when you take into account the carbon cost of transporting the fuel north, the gas Econic’s emission figure is 60 per cent lower than that of a standard truck on similar work,” he says. “But if, in the future, we are able to run vehicles on fuel from a local source, that figure could be significantly improved.”

Leeds City Council already operates a fleet of 49 diesel-engined Econics and chose Mercedes-Benz to supply its gas-powered vehicle largely on the back of their strong track record and local framework.

“It allows us to compare like with like and come up with a very accurate assessment of the potential savings,” adds Mr Pycroft. “The fact that the Econic LLG is built on the main factory production line and carries a full manufacturer’s warranty was another big plus point, while Mercedes-Benz UK and Northside Truck & Van also demonstrated great faith in the product by putting in a huge amount of work with Head of Streetscene Services Graham Hollings, Environmental Officer Richard Crowther and myself, to make this happen.”