Rodney Johnston, General Manager of Toll IPEC, has taken delivery of the company's first Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Mercedes-Benz Econic at the Toll IPEC Altona depot in Victoria.
The CNG model, which debuted at the 2012 International Truck, Trailer and Equipment Show in Melbourne as a rigid truck, will go to work as an urban prime mover to move general freight and cargo between IPEC's metropolitan depots.
“We are very proud to present Toll IPEC with its first CNG-powered Econic,” said Joachim Heinke, Mercedes-Benz Trucks Senior Manager. “This further highlights Toll IPEC’s commitment to the environment and strengthens the partnership between Mercedes-Benz and Toll IPEC. We have been pleased with the sales performance of the Econic since its introduction and hope to build on this momentum with the CNG variant.”
The 270 hp (205 kW) CNG engine has a displacement of 6.9 litres, and achieves a maximum torque of 1000 Nm (738 Nm) of torque. Natural gas consists of up to 98 percent methane, and burns leaner than diesel due to its high octane number. CNG power also delivers considerably lower noise levels.
The Econic design with low-floor driver's cab, fully air-suspended chassis and automatic transmission was initially developed for vocational operations in Europe like garbage collection but has been adapted as a low impact urban delivery option. The driver can access the low entry through a 620 mm wide pneumatic folding door.
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