Green travel to the next skip

The travel, transport and waste management specialist Gast AG from Utzenstorf in the canton of Bern already had one of the cleanest fleets in the region. A unique Welaki vehicle with a CNG drive has now been added to this fleet.

Deputy workshop manager and chauffeur Heinz Schott checks the correct position of the trough on his Mercedes Econic 1830 NGT with a critical eye. Source: CNG-Mobility.ch

Welaki? Is it all Greek to you? Then you have probably disposed of items in a skip, just like me, but never been there when the swap-loader tipper truck – or Welaki for short (an abbreviation of the equivalent German term ‘Wechsel-Lade-Kipper’) – drove up and picked them up for disposal. The new skip loader from Hauri Transporte GmbH, based in Niederwil (SO), is one Welaki worth a closer look, particularly when it is picking up a skip. That’s because with its CNG drive, the Mercedes Econic 1830 NGT used by the subsidiary of Gast AG in Utzenstorf is not only 50% quieter than a diesel truck, but also CO₂-neutral on the road thanks to the biogas in the tank.

“It is the first CNG Welaki on the continent,” explains Marc Gast, Head of Disposal & Transportation, with visible pride. “That’s probably why a lot of body manufacturers were interested in building the CNG Mercedes. In the end, we opted for Trösch AG Fahrzeugbau from Volketswil in the canton of Zurich because we already knew them from another contract.” The blue-and-white skip loader has now been added to the company’s fleet of vehicles, which is already very sustainable with the four CNG refuse trucks.

 “Henne” Schott is thrilled with his CNG Mercedes and wouldn’t want to be without it. Source: CNG-Mobility.ch 

Deputy workshop manager and driver Heinz Schott is clearly enjoying the CNG Mercedes with its practical, low-entry driver’s cab and large windscreen. “It can get a little warm in summer, but the all-round visibility is fantastic,” explains the 36-year-old with satisfaction. He has already covered more than 7,000 CO₂-neutral kilometres with it. Leonardo, the ninja turtle figure with the blue headband, is always there as a lucky charm. “I mainly travel around the region, dropping off and picking up skips, driving things away for disposal – which is why the range of CNG trucks has never been an issue,” he adds. “At around 30 kg per 100 km, consumption is currently fairly average, despite some heavy loads. In addition, all of the Welaki’s auxiliary units also run off the biogas-powered unit.” And with more than 150 filling stations in Switzerland – some with fairly powerful compressors and fairly large tanks specifically designed to meet the needs of CNG trucks – you will always find a CNG pump when you need one.

Sometimes the various assistance systems of the Mercedes react almost a little too cautiously for the 36-year-old. Source: CNG-Mobility.ch

“Henne” has been with Gast AG for 10 years and started out as a loader. “I thought it was great to stand on the running board and feel the wind – for me, that was freedom and almost a bit like surfing,” he says with a beaming eyes. He didn’t want to be a driver at first, but half of his family drive trucks. Now he passes them in his Econic, with its CNG drive, and waves a cheery hello. “All the cameras are awesome, even for a mirror driver like me, and are extremely helpful when manoeuvring. The other assistance systems are sometimes almost too cautious,” argues Schott, although he still prefers the occasional excessive braking to not braking enough.

“I have driven a diesel Welaki again in the meantime, but I would not swap the CNG-Mercedes. It offers great ride comfort – (laughs) and not just the suspension for the driver’s seat. It also has the necessary torque and is much quieter than the diesel, which makes a nice difference over time,” explains the 36-year-old. For other drivers, the CNG drive is still rather exotic, so “Henne” is often asked about it and can only say good things.

Precision is required: the trough has to be placed with centimetre precision with the first CNG-Welaki on the continent. Source: CNG-Mobility.ch

But now it’s time to neatly drop off another skip in a customer’s front garden. Not so easy with trees, bushes and awnings, which leave little room for unloading. “The air suspension at the rear leaves the Mercedes with less clearance compared with other bodies, but the arms are slightly longer, so it all works out the same,” explains Schott. He keeps his cool, skilfully swings the skip past the obstacles with inches to spare and quickly checks it is nicely positioned. Then it’s off again, all CO₂-neutral of course, to the next skip waiting for the Welaki with its CNG drive. (jas, 10 May 2022)