An additional 34 Scania CNG refuse collection vehicles equipped with Allison Automatics will join AWM ‘s fleet by autumn helping to improve air quality in Munich's city center.

MUNICH, Germany, May 24, 2022 – The Abfallwirtschaftsbetrieb München (AWM) is one of the largest municipal waste management companies in Germany. The company has been operating 10 Scania CNG refuse collection vehicles with Allison 3000 Series™ transmissions for several years as part of a sustainable and environmentally friendly fleet renewal program. An additional 34 trucks will be added to the fleet by autumn 2022, of which some 20 have already been delivered. The aim is to change AWM's entire fleet of 184 refuse collection vehicles to environmentally friendly propulsion systems.

Half of the 34 new vehicles will be Scania R 280 B 6x2*4 NB//CNG with CR20L long-distance cab and 3,750 mm wheelbase, and the other half are Scania L 280 B6x2*4 NB// CNG with low-floor cab, CityDoor and 3,550 mm wheelbase. The trucks are equipped with Allison 3000 Series™ automatic transmissions and are powered by Euro 6, 5-cylinder inline CNG engines with a displacement of 9.3 liters. Their output is 206 kW (276 hp) and they deliver a torque of 1350 Nm at 1000 rpm and above. The vehicle body is a Faun Variopress with a lifter system by Zoeller.

Following a European-wide tender, the decision was made in favor of this overall vehicle configuration. As early as the 1970s, AWM has opted for fully automatic transmissions to avoid clutch replacements and to provide greater comfort for the drivers. Another plus point for the Scania-Allison combination was the included fuel saving measures. Thanks to Allison's FuelSense® 2.0 software, the gear shift points are optimally set and fuel consumption is reduced.

“The overall package makes a lot of sense”, explained Matthias Thiem, Sales of Municipal and Specialized Vehicles at Scania. “Allison is unbeatable in such applications, with up to 700 engine stop-starts per day. Torque converter transmissions are extremely robust and therefore reduce stress levels for operators but also for sellers."

AWM has been running refuse trucks with Allison fully automatic transmissions since the late 1990s. Currently, the company operates a total of 184 refuse collection vehicles, around 80% of which (nearly 150 vehicles) are equipped with an Allison fully automatic transmission.

"Maintenance is considerably simpler for vehicles with fully automatic transmissions. We usually drive our vehicles for 10 to 12 years. With manual or automated manual transmissions, it would mean four clutch replacements,” said Sabine Schulz-Hammerl, Managing Director of AWM. “However, the Allison torque converter does not wear out and thus does not need to be replaced. The only regular maintenance we do is routine oil and filter changes, and here we follow the manufacturer's exact service intervals."

By eliminating the need to replace clutches, AWM benefits enormously, not only in terms of reduced operating costs, but also in terms of keeping to scheduled routes and reducing downtime.

"Furthermore, in order to be considerate towards our staff, we wanted to have vehicles without traction interruption. It is significantly more comfortable for the loading crew on the running boards at the back of the truck if they are not jolted every time the vehicle starts up," said Schulz-Hammerl.

Allison Automatics are ideal for natural gas engines that endure the heavy stop-start duty cycles of municipal vehicles in city traffic. Natural gas engines are more responsive when combined with Allison fully automatic transmissions. Allison torque converter technology assists the natural gas engine at vehicle launch, multiplies engine torque and delivers smooth power to the wheels. As a result, the vehicles deliver the best performance and use the fuel very efficiently, regardless of whether they are fueled with bio-methane or fossil natural gas. The precise crawling speed and precision tuning facilitate the collection of garbage bins in narrow spaces, as well as working at very low speeds. Allison fully automatic transmissions provide seamless, uninterrupted power for higher average speeds, increased productivity and driving comfort, even in the bustling Munich city center traffic.

Additionally, the Continuous Power Technology™ enables vehicles powered by natural gas to operate more quietly. The helical gears of the Allison 3000 Series transmissions are also a contributing factor to the decrease of noise levels.

“Allison transmissions are perfectly suited for gas engines as they increase output torque at low engine speeds,” said Stephan Marker, Area Sales Manager for Allison Transmission. “They provide greater comfort and vehicle control for both the driver and the loading crew. Incidentally, the smooth, jerk-free starts result in far fewer shoulder issues for the loading crew compared with other types of transmission. And, importantly, Allison Automatics reduce noise levels, fuel consumption and emissions."

The Allison Automatics in the Scania refuse trucks provide additional fuel efficiency due to FuelSense® 2.0 with DynActive® Shifting, Allison's latest fuel-saving technology. FuelSense 2.0 uses a real-time learning algorithm that continually assesses driving conditions, taking into account factors such as vehicle weight, the frequency of stop-starts and topography, to initiate subtle but significant alterations in gear shift points to ideally match fuel economy and performance. Tests showed fuel savings of up to 8.8% depending on the route and duty cycle.