Municipal & Waste disposal
Strong in the team
Karlsruhe sets a standard for forward-looking urban development – the expansion of the eEconic fleet and a holistic infrastructure concept from Mercedes‑Benz Trucks allow the municipal waste disposal company "Team Sauberes Karlsruhe" to combine reliability and environmental friendliness efficiently and effectively.
eEconic fleet paves the way for Karlsruhe's sustainable waste management concept.
From test to standard
“Emma” – the crew of “Team Sauberes Karlsruhe” (TSK) affectionately named the first fully electric eEconic in their fleet. After a one-week consumption measurement on Karlsruhe's roads it was clear: “Emma” impressed not only with a proven vehicle concept but also with its performance figures. TSK now operates seven eEconic – the fleet is planned to be expanded to a total of 18 vehicles.
A decision of this scale did not come out of nowhere – after all, it wasn't the TSK's first contact with the fully electric Mercedes‑Benz Truck. In advance, the team in orange tested the practical suitability of the alternative drive in waste collection operations for over a year using a trial vehicle – and were enthusiastic.
What makes the Karlsruhe project special? In addition to the proven strengths of the eEconic, the tailor-made infrastructure concept from Mercedes‑Benz Trucks eConsulting and S&G Automobil AG enables the best possible performance and utilization of the vehicles within the Karlsruhe operation.
More circularity for Karlsruhe.
The TSK keeps the city moving every day. Whether waste collection, street cleaning or winter service: the roughly 540 employees ensure a clean and functioning fan-shaped city – all year round.
But that's not all: in addition to the targeted disposal of household and commercial waste, the TSK also ensures that it is recycled as effectively as possible. As experts in the circular economy, TSK team members also strive to pass on their knowledge of resource‑conserving practices to the city's residents.
- eEconic in the early morning hours
- eEconic charging socket with attached charging cable
- eEconic refuse collection vehicle in the depot
- eEconic refuse collection vehicle with illuminated headlamps in the depot
Low on electricity and noise.
The results of a year with the eEconic and the experiences with “Emma” speak for themselves: the electric truck impresses not only with comfortable operation, but also with the improved working conditions ensured by the CO2-free drivetrain in operation: hardly any noise, hardly any vibrations — just gentle, efficient waste collection.
Above all, the energy balance is impressive: on its daily route of just over 80 km with around 60 stops, “Emma” consumed only about 35% of her battery capacity.
Added to this are the proven features that make the Econic and eEconic efficient companions in urban everyday life: low entry and folding door for smooth operations, DirectVision panoramic windscreen for a wide-ranging overview of road traffic, and numerous safety assistance systems that can help protect all road users in the immediate vicinity of the eEconic.
Extended operating times, reduced costs.
The heart of the Karlsruhe project is the precisely coordinated charging infrastructure, developed in collaboration with Mercedes‑Benz Trucks eConsulting and S&G Automobil AG to integrate the eEconic as seamlessly as possible into operations in Karlsruhe.
The depot's decentralised "satellite charging systems" are equipped with two 400 kW power units each, which together supply eight wall-mounted charging points of 100 kW each. This system ensures the TSK vehicles are ready for operation at all times.
The sophisticated charging infrastructure ensures that the vehicles are charged as efficiently as possible. At the same time, it improves charging times and minimises electricity costs. An intelligent energy management system prevents voltage peaks in the power grid and prioritises charging processes according to the needs of individual vehicles. In the long term, a planned photovoltaic system will supply the vehicles with electricity generated on-site.
Impressive balance sheets.
Beyond these technical provisions, the Mercedes-Benz eEconic already comes from the factory with three 112 kWh battery packs and a range of up to 100 km per charge1 in collection operations – more than enough for daily use. The Multimedia-Cockpit Interactive can provide, in real time while driving, all important information on battery status, energy consumption and remaining range. Thanks to this intelligent technology, the fleet can be steered through the streets with high efficiency.
Added to this already remarkable environmental record is the fact that each Mercedes‑Benz eEconic saves around 24.3 t of CO₂ per year. That results in an annual total saving of around 170 t of CO₂ for Karlsruhe.
As the city switches to environmentally friendly waste collection with the eEconic, the team can rely on strong backing: the purchase of the new vehicles is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Transport under the Guideline for the Promotion of Light and Heavy Commercial Vehicles with Alternative, Climate‑Friendly Powertrains and Associated Refueling and Charging Infrastructure (KsNI) with up to 80% of the eligible additional costs, up to a maximum of €1,980,602.60. NOW GmbH is supporting the program; the Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility approves the applications.
By 2035, the entire fleet of the TSK is to be converted to alternative powertrains — with the aim of reducing the city's CO₂ emissions to zero. In doing so, Karlsruhe is making a strong statement on the way to a cleaner and quieter city.
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