7 tonne Iveco EcoDailys tip the balance for Colas

Colas has put a fleet of four new Iveco ECODAILY 7 tonne tippers to work on a major private finance initiative (PFI) with Portsmouth City Council.  They will be used to support the maintenance and management of the city’s highways infrastructure in a contract which lasts until 2029.

Supplied by Iveco dealer Hendy Van & Truck, the vehicles are some of the first new 7 tonne ECODAILY 70C17 chassis cabs to enter operation in the UK – Colas has previously purchased Iveco’s 6.5 tonne Daily light commercials.

These specific vehicles replace a fleet of 3.5 tonne tippers and are expected to service the PFI contract for the next five years, in operation up to seven days a week and covering around 20,000 miles a year.

Each vehicle has been mounted with a Charlton tipper body, with the vehicle’s unladen weight of 3,340 kg (including body-mounted toolbox) delivering an ultra-competitive payload of 3,660 kg.

Trevor Purfield, National Plant & Transport Manager at Colas, says: “Trading up to the new 7 tonne ECODAILY delivers a healthy payload increase over our previous 6.5 tonne models whilst keeping the vehicle’s footprint identical, which means we benefit from the same impressive turning circle and manoeuvrability.

“In comparison with our lighter 3.5 tonne tippers it ensures we have the flexibility to carry heavier items such as paving stones to a site without having to make multiple trips in the same vehicle.  This saves us clocking-up any unnecessary road miles and helps to minimise our impact on the environment.”

The ECODAILY’s classification as an Environmentally friendly Enhanced Vehicle (EEV) means it goes one step further than Euro 5, enabling Colas to operate vehicles far cleaner than the minimum legal standard.  Each 7 tonner is powered by a 3.0 litre four-cylinder engine that is capable of producing 170 hp between 2,990 and 3,500 rev/min and up to 400 Nm of torque between 1,250 and 2,990 rev/min.  These powerful diesel engines guarantee the availability of a constant maximum torque over a wide range and from the lowest engine speed, which ensures the ECODAILY is comfortable in heavy traffic and responds quickly to sudden acceleration – even when carrying a full load.  They also benefit from extended service intervals of 40,000 km, helping to reduce fleet downtime and operating costs.

Like all ECODAILYs the new vehicles feature a robust and well-balanced body structure which ensures active safety and reliable behavior even in an emergency.  They also benefit from all-round disc brakes and the latest generation ESP (Electronic Stability Program) as standard, which guarantees shorter braking distances and reduces the risk of skidding.  This state-of-the-art safety package integrates all of the vehicle’s safety functions including ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System), ASR (Anti Slip Regulator), HBA (Hydraulic Brake Assist) and Hill Holder, which provides assistance to the driver by stopping a vehicle rolling back when pulling away on an incline.

The four new vehicles will operate on highways maintenance duties across Portsmouth, helping to maintain the high standards of its 480 km road network.  In addition to carrying out roadworks, Colas is also responsible for maintaining the drains, managing skip licences and mowing the verges – plus looking after 16,000 street lights and 84 structures.

For further information on the PFI agreement between Colas and Portsmouth City Council, visit streets-ahead.uk.com.