Abfallentsorgungs-Gesellschaft Ruhrgebiet mbH (AGR), a waste management company in Herten, North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany), has been committed for many years to the use of environmentally friendly vehicles. She submitted an application to participate in the HECTOR program (Hydrogen Waste VSollecyouion Vehicles in Nohrth West Europe – Hydrogen Waste Collection Vehicles in North West Europe). The objective is to study how hydrogen can be an effective solution to reduce emissions from waste collection vehicles.
Previously, a DAF CF 340 with a Millennium XXL 40 body from Terberg HS with front loading was used to collect commercial waste. The conversion from standard diesel propulsion to hydrogen was carried out by E-Trucks Europe, a specialist manufacturer of hydrogen electric commercial vehicles based in Belgium, together with Wietholt, an authorized DAF dealer in Dorsten, Germany, which is also a service partner of Allison Transmission.
In order to convert the diesel truck to hydrogen propulsion, the vehicle had to be completely dismantled. Almost all of the original powertrain – engine, fuel tanks and exhaust system – has been removed. Only the fully automatic Allison 3200 transmission has been retained, as it is an integral part of the new drive concept.
The Allison 3200 fully automatic transmission was developed for use in refuse collection vehicles, among others, and has been optimized by Allison and E-Trucks Europe application engineers to meet the demands of the battery-powered vehicle. combustible. Allison’s Continuous Power Technology™ provides smooth, uninterrupted gear changes and faster acceleration. The patented torque converter multiplies engine torque when starting and accelerating. In addition, it protects the entire drivetrain from vibrations and jerks during gear changes. The precise pitch of the vehicle and the maneuverability facilitate the collection of waste in narrow lanes, even at extremely low speeds.
A fuel cell module was installed in the vehicle’s former engine compartment. The diesel fuel tanks have been dismantled and replaced with battery packs which supply an electric motor with hydrogen energy, a motor coupled to the Allison six-speed automatic transmission. The four hydrogen tanks on the roof of the vehicle have a capacity of 20 kilograms, sufficient for a range of around 200 kilometres. Refueling at 350 bar takes just under 15 minutes. Press release
The 28-ton vehicle, in 6×2 with steered trailing axle, equipped with a front loader, will be used by one person to collect commercial waste from businesses in the Ruhr metropolitan area. In addition to the new hydrogen waste collection vehicle, 15 hydrogen cars are already in service at AGR. The acquisition of new environmentally friendly trucks equipped with hydrogen engines is planned. AGR is currently planning to build its own hydrogen production facility with an adjoining high-performance filling station, which will be open to municipal hydrogen waste collection vehicles and private hydrogen cars.
“This particular type of propulsion is ideal for use in the waste collection sector due to its climate protection potential. And it demonstrates once again that Allison transmissions can be used with all types of fuel,” said Stephan Marker, Regional Sales Manager at Allison Transmission. “Allison transmissions are known for their associations with heat engines. They are also ideal for electromobility. »
Additionally, Allison Transmission launched the eGen Power™ 100D electric axle last year. It is one of the world’s most powerful and fully integrated electric axle systems for medium and heavy vehicles. Since then, Allison has continued to expand its portfolio of electric axles with the 130D and 100S models that support a variety of vehicles with varying gross vehicle weights and diverse applications. To learn more about the eGen Power portfolio, visit www.allisontransmission.com/en-us/ev-solutions/egen-power.
Allison Transmission press release.
