Dennis Eagle has launched a new model of the all-electric eCollect collection vehicle. This is the second configuration of the eRCV which was originally launched in 2020.
The company chose the 18-tonne 4x2 model as the next eCollect to meet the demand for a small zero-emissions RCV suited to collection rounds in urban areas with restricted access. These rounds are often in locations suffering from poor air quality.
The 4x2 eCollect is a smaller version of the original 6x2 but it has a 10m³ body capable of carrying 4.8 tonnes – the same as its diesel equivalent. And like the 6x2, it has a narrow track chassis to provide ideal manoeuvrability.
The vehicle is fitted with three battery packs instead of five, which are carefully balanced to help optimize the load, with one centre pack and one pack on each side of the vehicle.
Together, the batteries provide the collection vehicle with 180kW of power, enough for a full day of work on a typical double-shift round. It still has the same 200kW electric drive as the original eCollect.
The cab is also the same Elite 6 model, with plenty of room for the driver and up to three crew members. And, the eRCV is factory-fitted with the DE-Connect telematics system.
As with the 6x2 variant, this model requires an offboard charger that outputs a minimum of 600v DC via a CCS2 connection. However, with only three battery packs, it is considerably quicker to charge, taking only 3.5 hours to become fully charged after starting from around 15 percent residual charge.
The first 4x2 eCollect has been trialled in Kensington and Chelsea, where the vehicle was put to work on a variety of rounds.
The collection truck returned to the depot after a double shift with typically 30 to 35 percent of its charge remaining. The nature of the rounds it has been covering has meant it only travelled around 35 miles a day but in practice, that will be typical of urban rounds the 4x2 eCollect is used for.
The new eCollect has proven to complete its rounds quicker than comparable diesel vehicles. This is largely due to the better acceleration it has from a standstill. Given the stop-start nature of waste collection, this is not only important for operational efficiency but also for helping traffic flow.
The eRCV is also much quieter and causes less disturbance for anyone in the vicinity. This means it can be used in noise-sensitive locations.
"The new 4x2 eCollect is firmly based on the original 6x2," says Dennis Eagle's Sales and Marketing Manager Lee Rowland. "It's a similar vehicle with a smaller footprint – very little has changed apart from size.
"But it is a very significant development for our customers. We chose the next eCollect model to be the 4x2 because many of the places a vehicle of this size will be used have air quality issues which are being treated as a priority by our customers."
