Driving a Lunaz bin lorry: the UK's biggest new EV

But they will all start with one of the best-regarded commercial platforms in the business: the Mercedes Econic Euro 6, which arrives at Lunaz complete with its 7.7-litre inline six-cylinder diesel engine and six-speed automatic gearbox.

It’s reckoned that this ICE unit seldom operates at optimum levels because of the low-speed, stop-start nature of refuse collections so, setting aside an EV’s lack of noise and pollution in the generally built-up, highly populated areas in which this lorry will be driven, an electric powertrain transforms efficiency levels.

Stripping the donor lorry and refurbishing its existing chassis, which Mercedes originally tested to one million miles (another reason why its preservation makes so much sense) takes around two weeks.

Unlike Lunaz’s classic car electric conversions, which can be reverse-engineered to accept the original ICE, the old diesel unit is ‘decommissioned like a gun’ to prevent future use, although every component is recycled.

The lorry is then ready to accept its electric powertrain. Depending on application, this includes four to six 65.5kWh batteries mounted between its front and rear axles, each of which is designed and manufactured on site using cells bought in from a UK supplier, allowing a bespoke and more space-efficient installation.

With each battery weighing 570kg, this could have impacted the lorry’s 10-tonne payload, but dispensation from the Department for Transport has allowed its gross vehicle weight to increase by up to two tonnes so that it’s unaffected.

The effect on performance, however, is marked. The electric motor, mounted under the cab, produces 470bhp and 5162lb ft, which not only generates the blinding acceleration figure mentioned earlier but also allowed the Lunaz bin lorry in testing to outperform an unladen ICE Econic from standstill on a 25% slope, despite being fully laden.

Neither is this EV troubled by range issues. With six batteries, it has a range of 155-160 miles, but given that a typical 2500-bin collection in London equates to only 15 driven miles, that’s not much of a drain. And since bin lorries only operate during the day, recharging overnight via its modest 22kW on-board AC charger provides all the range necessary for a full day’s service, whether in the remote Highlands or a large city.

Piloting a bin lorry, I have to admit, is the antithesis of everything that I enjoy about a driving job: relentless low speeds; continual stopping and starting; endless tight manoeuvres; blocking up roads and facing a succession of intolerant car drivers unable to see that you’re providing a vital public service; and, of course, the all-pervading smell of hundreds of wheelie bins’ worth of refuse being compacted just behind you. But today I have it easy.

The bins at our ‘collection’ are empty and look like they’ve never seen a crisp packet, let alone a dirty nappy or the remains of yesterday’s spag bol, and my shift’s ‘route’ runs along the immaculate, broad avenues of Silverstone’s Technology Park. I don’t even have the pleasure of sitting next to three hot and overworked waste operatives, but if I did, I reckon they would appreciate this revised version of their old Econic’s cabin.

Lunaz designers spent time with bin loaders while they were on their collections and gained valuable feedback. As a result, the cupholder count grew to five, the four reupholstered seats – now heated – have been reconfigured to allow more space for those sitting on the two central/elevated positions, and there’s even Apple CarPlay.

Facing me is a digital screen, displaying a speedo, and readouts for battery range and efficiency, as well as the vital air pressure stats. (Air pressure controls everything from the brakes to the firmness of the driver’s seat.) Across the central dash are two 10.0in screens, one for infotainment and the other (not fully functional on this prototype) relaying views from the plethora of cameras around the lorry, which are so important for driver-to-crew visibility during collections.

And now for a revelation: the Lunaz bin lorry is a bit of a hoot to drive. Rotate the switch inside the right-hand column stalk to engage Drive in the two-speed ZF ’box, pull up a dash-mounted lever to release the airbrake and all 17 tonnes of Lunaz bin lorry glides down the road with barely a hum.

Given the sheer mass of the thing, riding on its 80-profile, 22.5in Continentals, there’s an unexpected precision to the steering, which is nicely weighted and quite high-geared – a real boon for those awkward manoeuvres down tight village lanes.

The ride is sublime, too, although I’d wager that, laden with 10 tonnes of garbage, there would be no room for heroics. Acceleration is hilariously brisk if you mash the throttle, but you feel it more at low speeds, which is, I guess, where it would benefit its users the most.

Unsurprisingly, Lunaz is talking to local authorities, all of which are under pressure to reduce carbon emissions in short order. By the end of this year, it is set to deliver 57 electric bin lorries, and a further 200-plus in 2024, some in partnership with waste management company Biffa.