In Lewisham, a district in the southeast of the British metropolis of London, a Mercedes-Benz Econic 1838 4x2 with an electric tipper and crusher body has recently been put into service.
Looking for an innovative rear loader tipper body, Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks located a suitable product from the Dutch waste disposal specialist Geesinknorba: the entire body is driven electrically. As a result, the vehicle can be efficiently and quietly used as a "mobile waste compactor" - local residents, market staff and market visitors are no longer bothered by noise and emissions. The battery pack is charged overnight in the depot (plug-in). 
"The Econic combines high performance with first-class reliability and an outstanding total cost of ownership record that outperforms all competitors," says Noel Everest, Service Group Manager of the urban fleet management.
But even more important to him are the high safety standards and the good visibility that characterize the Econic. He is quite confident that the new refuse collection vehicle will receive a five-star rating as soon as London Mayor Sadiq Khan's "Direct Vision Standards" directive comes into force.
Excellent all-round visibility increases safety
The Mercedes-Benz Econic sets groundbreaking standards with its low-profile "high-visibility cab" with outstanding all-round visibility and good visibility of the driver by other road users. It is an unmatched benchmark due to its high and wide-opening driver's door, the large panoramic glazing of the front and side windows and the sophisticated mirror and camera system to reduce the blind spot.
Lewisham Town Council bought its first Econic in 2013. Today, it only uses Econic vehicles in its fleet. Around 40 Econics are used in the narrow streets of this London borough. Incidentally, in Scandinavia the Econic with the electric body has found even wider acceptance: More than 150 units are in use in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland.
