xcel
11-25-2009, 02:10 PM
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/European_Union_Flag.jpg Cleanest vehicles on the road besides BEVs. (cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=243212)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2010_MB_Econic_NGT.jpgWayne Gerdes - CleanMPG (cleanmpg.com) - Nov. 25, 2009
The Mercedes-Benz Econic Natural Gas Technology (NGT) is an environmentally friendly vehicle designed specifically for municipal operations, garbage collection, and short-range distribution. With its low-emissions, it helps to keep inner cities clean and quiet. Operation with biogas is particularly friendly due to being CO2-neutral.
In Stockholm, the international company Sita (Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux) has been using Mercedes Econic NGT trucks for garbage disposal applications for more than six years, whereby the Econics in Sweden’s capital are being operated for the first time exclusively with biogas (methane) produced in-house from renewable sources. Sweden has now ordered an additional 27 Econic natural gas vehicles from the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth near Karlsruhe. Sita now has a fleet of 98 Mercedes Econic’s in Sweden; 81 of which include natural gas drives with more than 70 of the trucks powered by biogas.
The biogas is obtained primarily from sewage sludge disposal systems, although garbage disposal facilities also now serve as a source. The Econic from those sources costs nearly nothing to drive and more importantly, completely independent from petroleum. The biogas used is collected in large containers that are then hooked up to gas pumps at filling stations.
Natural-gas Econic is a “green hit”
The Mercedes Econic’s natural gas drive makes the vehicles emissions lower than the current “Enhanced Environmentally friendly Vehicle” (EEV) standard. Its engine produces neither CO2 nor particulates and is also extremely quiet. The M 906 LAG natural gas engine generates 279 HP from a displacement of 6.9L with power transferred by a six-speed automatic transmission. Because it more than meets the EEV standard’s requirements, the Econic is permitted to bear the “Blue Angel” seal and may also be driven in any low-emission zone. Such attributes offer a very convincing argument for potential customers, which is why more Econics are being purchased by municipalities. Berlin currently has 63 Mercedes Econic NGT vehicles in operation, Sweden more than 250, Athens 108, Paris 22, Prague 11, and Valencia 36. There are now over 950 Econic NGTs on the road in Europe.
The Econic, first unveiled in May 1998 at the Entsorga trade fair in Cologne. The vehicle already had a natural gas engine produced by the Group’s NAW (Nutzfahrzeugwerke Arbon Wetzikon) subsidiary and was later enhanced at the Mannheim engine plant. Diesel fuel was cheap in the 1990s so only a few municipalities were willing to experiment with natural gas drives.
With increasing environmental awareness, rising diesel prices, and more stringent air quality controls, the versatile Econic NGT has become a “green hit” improving air quality in major European cities across the Continent. As one example, Athens recently ordered 108 Econics to reduce the extreme levels of smog the Greek capital is frequently subjected to.
Like many other European cities, Stockholm has outsourced its garbage disposal system to private companies in order to save money. One of these companies is Sita, is the private-sector waste disposal market leader in the Nordic countries, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2010_MB_Econic_NGT.jpgWayne Gerdes - CleanMPG (cleanmpg.com) - Nov. 25, 2009
The Mercedes-Benz Econic Natural Gas Technology (NGT) is an environmentally friendly vehicle designed specifically for municipal operations, garbage collection, and short-range distribution. With its low-emissions, it helps to keep inner cities clean and quiet. Operation with biogas is particularly friendly due to being CO2-neutral.
In Stockholm, the international company Sita (Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux) has been using Mercedes Econic NGT trucks for garbage disposal applications for more than six years, whereby the Econics in Sweden’s capital are being operated for the first time exclusively with biogas (methane) produced in-house from renewable sources. Sweden has now ordered an additional 27 Econic natural gas vehicles from the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth near Karlsruhe. Sita now has a fleet of 98 Mercedes Econic’s in Sweden; 81 of which include natural gas drives with more than 70 of the trucks powered by biogas.
The biogas is obtained primarily from sewage sludge disposal systems, although garbage disposal facilities also now serve as a source. The Econic from those sources costs nearly nothing to drive and more importantly, completely independent from petroleum. The biogas used is collected in large containers that are then hooked up to gas pumps at filling stations.
Natural-gas Econic is a “green hit”
The Mercedes Econic’s natural gas drive makes the vehicles emissions lower than the current “Enhanced Environmentally friendly Vehicle” (EEV) standard. Its engine produces neither CO2 nor particulates and is also extremely quiet. The M 906 LAG natural gas engine generates 279 HP from a displacement of 6.9L with power transferred by a six-speed automatic transmission. Because it more than meets the EEV standard’s requirements, the Econic is permitted to bear the “Blue Angel” seal and may also be driven in any low-emission zone. Such attributes offer a very convincing argument for potential customers, which is why more Econics are being purchased by municipalities. Berlin currently has 63 Mercedes Econic NGT vehicles in operation, Sweden more than 250, Athens 108, Paris 22, Prague 11, and Valencia 36. There are now over 950 Econic NGTs on the road in Europe.
The Econic, first unveiled in May 1998 at the Entsorga trade fair in Cologne. The vehicle already had a natural gas engine produced by the Group’s NAW (Nutzfahrzeugwerke Arbon Wetzikon) subsidiary and was later enhanced at the Mannheim engine plant. Diesel fuel was cheap in the 1990s so only a few municipalities were willing to experiment with natural gas drives.
With increasing environmental awareness, rising diesel prices, and more stringent air quality controls, the versatile Econic NGT has become a “green hit” improving air quality in major European cities across the Continent. As one example, Athens recently ordered 108 Econics to reduce the extreme levels of smog the Greek capital is frequently subjected to.
Like many other European cities, Stockholm has outsourced its garbage disposal system to private companies in order to save money. One of these companies is Sita, is the private-sector waste disposal market leader in the Nordic countries, the Netherlands, and Belgium.