Mercedes-Benz unveils gas Econic

Mercedes-Benz has premiered a natural-gas-powered Econic waste-collection specialist at an transport expo in Sweden

German maker Mercedes-Benz has expanded its range of Econic waste-collection and special-purpose trucks, adding a natural-gas-powered model its line-up of conventional diesel models.

The Econic NGT (as in Natural Gas Technology) was unveiled on Wednesday, August 20, at the 'Elmia Lastbil' trade fair for the transport industry at Jönköping, Sweden, ahead of its broader international premiere at Germany's IAA Commercial Vehicles exhibition in Hanover on September 25.

The manufacturer says the vehicle's new M 936 G in-line six-cylinder powerplant produces the same performance as the diesel iteration but with far less noise and far lower emissions. It's based on the 7.7-litre OM 936 BlueEfficiency Power turbo-diesel and runs solely on compressed natural gas (CNG).

Mercedes-Benz says it produces maximum outputs of 222kW (302hp) and 1200Nm – figures roughly equivalent to those of its diesel sibling – but cuts carbon-dioxide emissions by 20 per cent, and meets full Euro 6 compliance.

The diesel and CNG engines share the same cylinder block and head, but the CNG version runs a newly developed turbo, ignition, and induction system, along with an exhaust gas recirculation system in addition to the engine's three-way catalytic converter. It's mated to an Allison six-speed automatic transmission.

Mercedes-Benz says the engine's noise levels fall below that of Europe's 80dB(A) limit, while the engine is also half the weight of the diesel version, thereby boosting payload by 400kg.

The Econic NGT will be available in Europe in 1830 and 2630 variants, in 4x2, 6x4 and 6x2/4 configurations and a choice of wheelbases and cab heights.

While there's no word at this stage of the Econic NGT heading to our shores, Mercedes-Benz has announced it will be unveiling a dual-control diesel version of the model in Australia in 2015.

Mercedes-Benz unveils gas Econic

Tags