News from Volvo: Volvo Trucks is now expanding its model range with a low-entry version of the new Volvo FE for Euro 6. The Volvo FE Low Entry Cab (LEC) has been specially designed for refuse operations and city distribution. The cab features a low entry, a flat floor design with excellent visibility and space for up to four people.
“There is a constant increase in the demand for efficient refuse transport and smart solutions for city distribution. With the new Volvo FE LEC we meet our customers’ needs even better than before. For instance, we are the only manufacturer to offer a refuse truck with a low entry and automated manual gearbox as an alternative to a fully-automatic transmission. Volvo I-Shift makes driving more fuel-efficient and the transmission’s lower weight means more payload,” says Pernilla Sustovic, Segment Manager Distribution, Volvo Trucks.
Walk-through, low-entry cab
The new Volvo FE LEC is based on the latest generation of Volvo Trucks’ medium duty Volvo FE, so the chassis, driveline, design, instruments and controls are all more or less identical. What differentiates the Volvo FE LEC above all are the properties specific to the low-entry walk-through cab. Entry height is just 530 mm. With the kneeling function activated, this is lowered a further 90 mm. The doors can be opened 90 degrees and the floor is flat throughout the cab.
The cab itself can be fitted with up to three passenger seats. The driver’s seat is more forward-placed to ensure the best possible visibility ahead and to the sides of the truck. The cab also features large rear-view mirrors and close-quarter mirrors. Extra side windows behind the B-posts are available as an option.
Practical details
“The Volvo FE LEC has been designed to make daily operations easier for the driver and crew. That is why we attached considerable importance to the practical details,” explains John Comer, Product Manager, Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland.
For example, the kneeling function is activated as soon as the parking brake is applied to make it possible to quickly and conveniently exit the cab. The kneeling function can also be turned on and off via a button in the instrument panel. There is also the option of a 24 V socket behind the driver’s seat, handy for powering a refrigerator, for example. In addition, it is possible to fit a reversing camera or a display for weighing the loaded refuse, via an adapter in the instrument panel.
The new Volvo FE LEC chassis is EU Whole Vehicle Type Approved and meets both EU and Swedish legislation – in addition to Volvo Trucks’ own stringent demands – on collision safety.
The truck is being unveiled this week at IFAT 2014 – one of the world’s largest exhibitions specialising in the environment and refuse handling – in Munich, Germany.