Upcycling A Truck
Whilst walking through the City of London this morning, I came across this truck.
It’s even got its own web page on the Refuse Vehicle Solutions web site.
This is the first paragraph.
Paper Round, part of BPR Group, has received its very own fully electric-conversion vehicle from Refuse Vehicle Solution (RVS) this week. The company is committed to transforming the future of resource management and the switch to electric is a major step in achieving this goal.
And this paragraph describes the conversion.
We have converted a Mercedes Econic 2630, 6×2 RS with a MOL VDK body and bin lift into a fully electric truck. It was being used by Paper Round as part of their commercial waste and recycling collection services in London. The RCV was converted from a diesel euro 5 engine to electric at RVS’s headquarters in Berkeley using the innovative EMOSS technology. With zero emissions, this new addition will contribute towards reducing Paper Round’s carbon footprint.
The performance seems impressive with a top speed of 56 mph and a range of around 250 km.
The economics of the truck indicate, that it is cheaper to go electric by converting an existing vehicle, rather than buying a new one.
Hence the title of this post.
The Anonymous Widower 
Looking through this story I have discovered at least half a dozen and maybe as many as ten companies throughout the UK offering electric packages for retrofitting into vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines. A few have developed their own proprietary driveline solutions, the majority however are buying in a packaged electrical system from overseas suppliers.
Another term I learnt was ‘gliders’ in which traditional commercial vehicle manufacturers are supplying new trucks without the engine, transmission and associated auxiliaries to select vehicle converters for the incorporation their electrical drive.
Comment by fammorris | November 17, 2021 |
There are also several companies that will convert a truck to hydrogen power.
I think that it illustrates that conversion of trucks to zero-carbon will be a very multi-faceted business. It seems that Refuse Vehicle Solutions do what it says on the tin or nameplate.
Comment by AnonW | November 17, 2021 |