New Electric & Hybrid Refuse Collection Vehicles Displayed by Geesinknorba

At this year’s bi-annual waste management and environment exhibition ‘Tem Tecma’, at the IFEMA centre in Madrid, Geesinknorba Spain introduced its new GPM IV Series rear loading intermittent waste collection vehicle. The new RCV is available in sizes of 12 to 28 cubic metres capacities, in standard 2.5 metre width configuration to suit 2.5 metre width chassis from two to four axle configuration, and narrow 2.3 metre variants for narrow track two and three axle chassis for tight access applications. The new GPM IV units can be mounted onto all makes of chassis, while the body sides are manufactured of a single sheet of 4 mm dolmex steel. This is said to be an improvement on the former GPM III model because the body sides used in this were welded together in two to three piece sections, dependent on the size and cubic capacity of the unit. Another new feature of the GPM IV is the relocation of the tailgate lift rams to the roof of the body and tailgate, which helps prevent waste becoming trapped in the tailgate lift rams when the unit is discharging at the disposal site. The internal hopper sides of the GPM IV product have also been thickened to direct the waste away from the yoke action of the packer blade so that all waste is directed into the central part of the hopper preventing waste becoming trapped around the packer blade rams and yoke. There has also been a more heavy duty body seal fitted between the body and tailgate to prevent liquids and leachates from leaking onto the road when food waste is being compressed inside the unit. Additionally, the ejector panel has been redesigned so that the guides are mounted in the side body rails, unlike a centre mounted guide rail on the GPM III product. The advantages of this are said to be increased cubic capacity of the body as well as better stability of the ejector panel. The tailgate is shorter giving less overhang, better manoeuvrability and better axle loadings. All of the electrical functions for the new GPM IV range are supplied from a single manufacturer. The company said that this helps to reduce repair and maintenance costs and replacement electrical parts can be replaced quickly to support GPM IV units operational in the field to prevent operational downtime. The GPM IV unit on the Geesinknorba stand at the exhibition is the second one to be built. This particular unit has 17cubic metres capacity (17H25 model) including a Geesinknorba Combi Split bin lift. In split mode, the lift can handle DIN type containers of 80 – 360 litres capacity; dual mode the lift can handle containers from 80 -1100 litres capacity using the comb bar - DIN 30740 specification. Trunnion arms have also been fitted to lift DIN 30700 specification containers. These can lift 660 -1100 litre containers using the trunnion pins on the sides of these containers. The unit on display at the exhibition had been mounted onto a Daf CF Euro 6 chassis with a 290 hp engine. It is due delivered to ‘ROTEB’ the municipality for the city of Rotterdam and was officially inaugurated by both the management from ‘ROTEB’ and Geesinknorba at the Madrid exhibition. The configuration of the chassis is a 6x2 mid steer 26 tonne chassis. To reduce driver fatigue, the chassis has been fitted with the Allison 3000 Series automatic transmission. Electric satellite vehicle The second unit exhibited was the Rossi Satellite refuse collection vehicle of 5.5 cubic metres capacity. The bodywork and compaction plate is constructed of high strength aluminium, the type used in the plane manufacturing industry. Aluminium construction is said to give a significant weight saving while allowing a payload when collecting municipal waste of 1200 kg. The Rossi features a comb lifter which can handle containers from 80 -1100 litres capacity to DIN 30740 specification as well as trunnion arms to DIN 30700 specification to handle containers of 660 – 1100 litres capacity using the trunnion pins on the sides of the container. The unit on display was mounted onto an Isuzu 3.5 tonne electric chassis, produced by Italian manufacturer Pretto. This chassis has a maximum speed of 90 KPH and can collect waste for eight hours before the batteries need to recharge themselves. The vehicle has two electric motors, with a patented simultaneous management of two electric motors on the same transmission, with clutch and gearbox. This system is said to maximise efficiency by controlling the temperature of the engine. Customers can decide on the number of batteries required. This can vary from four to twelve batteries, dependent on the customer’s specific requirements. The main advantage of the Isuzu electric chassis is low noise levels, important when collecting waste in city centres at night or early in the morning. According to the manufacturer, one advantage of the Rossi is that it can collect waste in narrow streets in the historic parts of city centres. The electric unit can discharge into either a Geesinknorba ‘G or N’ Series rear loading refuse collection vehicle once full - acting as a mothership transfer vehicle for the satellite units. This is said to save time travelling to the waste treatment plant, helping to improve productivity. Electric side loader The third unit on display was an AMS CL1- electric side loader of 25 cubic metres capacity. This has the necessary lifting equipment to empty containers from 660 wheeled containers DIN 30740 and 3200 litre static containers. The unit on display had been fitted to a Renault Premium 340 DXI 6x2 rear steer chassis of 26 tonne gross vehicle weight. The chassis includes a conventional day cab and vertical exhaust. To reduce driver fatigue, the company explained that the chassis had been fitted with the Allison 3200R automatic transmission complete with retarder to reduce brake wear. This particular AMS electric had already been sold to Urbaser, the second largest waste management contractor in Spain. This is the first AMS CL1- electric unit that the company has purchased in Spain and it will provide the municipal waste collection service for a partnership of five towns of ‘Comarca De Las Cinco Valles’, in the Aragon – Zaragoza region. According to Geesinknorba Spain, Urbaser decided to purchase the electric vehicle following use of the conventional AMS CL1-N side loader units in the municipalities of Boadilla La Monte – Madrid and Tierra del Vino in Valencia. Hybrid Geesinknorba also exhibited a GPM III 20 cubic metre 20H25 ‘LI-ON Power’ hybrid refuse collection vehicle complete with the Geesinknorba Combi Split bin lift. In split mode, the lift can handle containers of 80 -360 litres capacity. In dual mode, the lift can handle containers of 660 – 1100 litres capacity – DIN 30740. Trunnion arms had also been fitted to the Combi Split lift to handle DIN 30700 containers from 660 – 1100 litres capacities which have the trunnion pins fitted to the sides of these containers. The hybrid consists of six lithium ion batteries which are charged by the engine. The batteries only need charging from the mains once a week. The unit was been mounted onto a Volvo FE 6x2 rear steer 26 tonne chassis with the conventional 320 horse power diesel engine to Euro 6 specification. To ease driver fatigue, the manufacturer said that the vehicle has been fitted with the Volvo I-Shift automatic transmission. The unit is part of the Geesinknorba European demonstrator fleet and will soon be completing operator trials with municipalities in Portugal. “The introduction of these electric units is important for Spanish municipalities and private sector contractors in Spain who work with municipalities because using these technologically advanced units helps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and the carbon footprint,” explained Geesinknorba Spain’s managing director. Digital data To complement its new products, the Geesinknorba said that it has partnered with CMS Supatrack. The two companies have formed a company called ‘Trace Waste’ which has developed digital data recording in ‘real time’ and is available through a portal for management to see the waste collection operations taking place in the field. The digital data collected can include the vehicle’s tyre pressure, its fuel consumption, driver behaviour e.g. speed and aggressive behaviour, digital tachograph downloads, weight of vehicle; payload and gross weight, as well as data from a Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) used when collecting either domestic or commercial waste. The company said that the data collected can include fault finding in ‘real time’ for the operator either from a fault with the body or engine management system on the vehicle chassis. The data is collected from the in cab Eurovim canbus system developed by Geesinknorba for its ‘G and N Series’ products. The data is available for both the driver and management to use. A key fob system is used to identify who is driving the vehicle so management can compare driver behaviour. Geesinknorba added that the system is available for all other equipment manufacturers’ chassis types and vehicle weighing systems. According to the manufacturer, the system has been fitted to 20,000 large vehicles operating in both the waste and logistics industry. By Timothy Byrne MCIWM Chartered Waste Manager ISWA International Waste Manager Associate member of Ategrus (Spanish Solid Waste Association). Read More Hybrid Drive RCVs: Mixing it up in Ibiza Ibizan waste management firm HERBUSA has recently purchased the first three Geesinknorba hybrid drive refuse collection vehicles mounted on Volvo FE Hybrid chassis in Spain. But how are they fitting into its established collection system and what benefits have they brought? Case Study - Waste Collection on the Island of Kefalonia Kefalonia is the largest of the Ionian Islands and between May and October is home to many thousands of tourists. Dealing with waste management on the island is a very important task because of the large volumes of waste produced by tourists, combined with Mediterranean temperatures reaching 40°C between July and August. 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