Hybrid garbage truck in Flanders

The company Veolia Environment has developed, in close collaboration with the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), TTA Truckland and VDK Waste Systems, a new type of garbage truck equipped with a hybrid powertrain is standard.

The innovation of this new garbage truck based on a propulsion system serial-hybrid, where the wheels are not propelled by the combustion engine, but by electric motors which are powered by a system of energy storage with super capacitors. The great challenge in equipment heavy trucks with an energy source serial-hybrid is the autonomy of the system of energy storage, which will determine the final outreach of the truck. This technology is based on the recovery and maintenance of energy brake released from vehicles that stop frequently. The garbage trucks are therefore ideal for the implementation of this new technology.

The systematic transition to the new trucks will decrease consumption, the total emission of CO2, noise and dust fine of Veolia in Belgium. Thus, trucks weighing up to 26 tons may be equipped with such a device. It is estimated a gain of consumption of 15 litres of diesel per 100 kilometers compared to conventional trucks, which contributes significantly to the preservation of the environment. According to Koen Goyvaerts of Veolia Environment Services, the savings in fuel made by a new truck is equivalent to one year's heating 3 houses.

Like the economies of consumption, the garbage truck of the future will be less noise. The wheels, but also the compactor truck is powered by electric motor. The electric propulsion is less noisy thereby allowing these trucks to maintain the standards of noise, especially at night; promoting the collection of waste that night is safer and causes fewer traffic problems.

A sustainable investment which has a price, approximately 45% more expensive than a conventional truck, which is relatively high but may be gradually pay (with the introduction of new products, consumption ...).

In December 2006, a collaboration between VITO (Flemish Institute for Technological Research), TTA Truckland, VDK Waste Systems (construction compactors and equipment cleaning) and Veolia Environmental Services (collection and waste treatment) can initiate project to develop new hybrid garbage trucks. According to forecasts, the result of this collaboration will be visible through a prototype in summer 2008. For three months, the truck will be tested intensively and we will monitor carefully each party. After the optimisation and fine-tuning, the goal is to eventually replace the fleet of trucks with new trucks less polluting.

According to Rudy Vitael, VITO took the initiative for the development of this project. To achieve this innovation, VITO sought reliable and appropriate partners who are experts in their field. Confident of the project, VITO created a separate entity for the marketing of storage system energy BlueBoost called Better-E ".

The advantages of the new truck are numerous. Computer simulations have shown that this truck will use 15 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers less than a conventional truck. The truck also produces less noise because both the wheels and the garbage press are driven electrically. Veolia Environmental Services will be testing a prototype this summer. The aim – in the long run – is to convert all trucks to this new type.

Veolia Environnement is a world-leading company in environmental services*. With operations on every continent and over 270,000 employees, it provides customized solutions to meet the needs of municipal and industrial customers. The group turned over EUR 28.6 billion in 2006.

Sources:
http://www.veoliaenvironnement.com/en/noflash_home.aspx
http://wwwa.vito.be/english/index.htm

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