Taking out the trash, i-MiEV style
Here's an odd little story from Japan today: the battery system that is used in Mitsubishi's i-MiEV electric car is going to get a workout as the driving force for the trash compactor in the Kyokuto Kaihatsu Kogyo Company's electric garbage collection truck. Running the compactor off of batteries instead of the truck's engine allows for cleaner, quieter garbage collection, as we've seen before. Mitsubishi says that the i-MiEV's battery will help the truck reduce CO2 emissions by 75 percent. Also, the cost to run the truck is "significantly less" due to the EV system. This is also the first time that components from the i-MiEV will be used in something other than the electric jellybean. Where might they end up next?
[Source: Mitsubishi]
PRESS RELEASE:
Kyokuto Kaihatsu Kogyo Co., Ltd.'s "Electric Garbage Collection Truck" to be Installed with Mitsubishi Motors Corporation's Electric Vehicle Battery System
- Trash Compactor to be Driven by Electricity -
TOKYO, September 28, 2009 - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC), will supply battery*1 systems from its new-generation electric vehicle (EV) i-MiEV to Kyokuto Kaihatsu Kogyo Co., Ltd. Kyokuto Kaihatsu Kogyo Co., Ltd. now introduces eco-friendly garbage collection with its all-new battery-powered trash compactor utilizing the power supply system developed for Mitsubishi Motors' i-MiEV in its garbage collection trucks.
Current trash compactors on garbage collection trucks run on power from the truck's engine. This means that during garbage collection and ejection the engine must always be running, increasing noise and environmental pollution in the process.
Looking for an environmentally-friendly solution, Kyokuto Kaihatsu Kogyo Co., Ltd. worked on developing electric-powered trash compactors for its trucks for the past few years. During development, it was found that the battery system used in MMC's i-MiEV fulfilled the necessary specifications for an electric-powered trash compactor, so it was decided to use MMC's battery system to power trash compactor to create an "electric garbage collection truck."
The following are features of the revolutionary and eco-friendly "electric garbage collection truck:"
(1) A 75% cut in truck CO2 emissions during use by utilizing battery power for the trash compactor instead of the engine
(2) Engine noise and CO2 emissions can be cut to zero when the engine is turned off during compactor use
(3) With almost no noise and no gas emissions during compactor use, the new truck is optimal for trash collection from within buildings, during early morning or late at night,.
(4) The electricity cost to run the trash compactor is significantly less than diesel fuel usually used in normal trash compactors
(2) Engine noise and CO2 emissions can be cut to zero when the engine is turned off during compactor use
(3) With almost no noise and no gas emissions during compactor use, the new truck is optimal for trash collection from within buildings, during early morning or late at night,.
(4) The electricity cost to run the trash compactor is significantly less than diesel fuel usually used in normal trash compactors
Kyokuto Kaihatsu Kogyo Co., Ltd. is aggressively moving forward with development of more eco-friendly products in order to further contribute to environmental conservation in the future.
For MMC, this is the first time that components used in the i-MiEV, sold from July, are to be supplied for non-i-MiEV use.
*1 Battery packs produced by Lithium Energy Japan
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Nick From Montreal 8:48AM (9/28/2009)
Hold on a second. Didn't Mistsubishi claim that they could only produce around 5000 iMievs in 2010 because there weren't more batteries available?
http://green.autoblog.com/2009/04/29/mitsubishi-reportedly-increasing-imiev-production-numbers-again/
Unless they sell these garbage truck modules at a super-high premium, I fail to see how this could help them achieve economy of scale -- which is what they need to reduce prices.
Cool idea anyway...
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d-man 11:37AM (9/28/2009)
yeah, I think that's what it is -- an idea. They're working on reducing prices, but while they've got what they've got, they might as well put it to some use
Laurens 11:02AM (9/28/2009)
Any electrification using Li with a higher return of CO2 on capital employed, should be explored. May the capitalistic force be with you.
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Serge 12:20PM (9/28/2009)
It would be great if powertrain itself was converted to electric as well. I don't think garbage trucks drive long distances, so there are savings in diesel fuel and maintenance. After a morning run the truck can charge all day, if necessary, until the next shift. Not to mention that not being waken up at 5 AM is *priceless*.
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