The first [conics go to waste
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11 Mercedes-Benz's campaign for municipal sales is under way with a fleet order for the Econic from Sevenoaks District Council.
Three refuse collecting versions of the 6x2/4 2628LL Econic are now in service with the council, powered by 279hp, sixcylinder, 6.4-litre Mercedes Benz 014906 LA engines.
They are fitted with 22m3 Farld Eco2600 compactor bodies giving a payload 01 12 tonnes.
Sparshatts of Kent is set to supply four more Econics; it will also help the council service the vehicles, which have a planned operational life of at least seven years.
Richard Wilson, head of the council's direct services, says-.
"They're really good—we're very happy. We went through a tot of demonstrations and testing before we narrowed the options down; now it's just a question of when we order the others, not if."
Each of the new collectors has a high-roof crew-cab for a driver and three mates with one-step access through a twopiece folding door, which Wilson says is ideal for the narrow urban streets that they often have to work in.
Econics are fitted with air suspension and electronically controlled disc brakes all round, as well as the Telligent maintenance monitoring system that calculates service intervals.