Slough chooses gas waste truck
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by Bryan Jarvis • Slough Borough Council has become one of the first UK users of Cummins' compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered 5.9-litre B-Series engines. It is adding a 192hp ERF gas-fed EC6 with Maclift recycler bodywork to its fleet of 10 waste collectors.
The CNG B-Series, which was first announced at last year's Hanover show, is now in production along with Cummins' 8.3 and 10-litre engines (CM 8-14 December 1994).
The B-Series gas unit uses integrated electronic ignition, power/torque and boost controls and a special bolt-on fuel pump. There are two ratings offered; 147hp (110kW) at 2,500 rpm and 192hp (143kW) at 2,800 rpm. This compares favourably with the 210hp (157kW) at 2,600 rpm of the diesel version.
According to Cummins, emissions are well inside the stan dards proposed for Euro-3 and Californian legislation and noise levels are down by around 4%.
Slough already runs two CNG Ford Transits and benefits from having a British Gas Fast Fill gas station near its depot.
Unfortunately. there's little incentive for it or other interested users at present as the gov. eniment takes over 90% of the cost of gas in tax.