Industrial electric vehicle (EV) remanufacturing company Lunaz has received approval to operate its upcycled electric refuse trucks in London.
The trucks have been certified to operate after achieving a five-star Direct Vision Standard (DVS) rating for driver visibility.
Transport for London’s (TfL’s) DVS has been developed by the organisation in partnership with researchers, academics and representatives from the freight industry, as well European heavy goods vehicle (HGV) manufacturers and regulatory bodies.
Under current TfL regulations, five-star rated vehicles can enter London with a permit obtained without providing any additional evidence.
However, from 28 October 2024, HGVs rated zero to two stars will need to be retrofitted with a Progressive Safe System.
READ MORE: Evri trials electric HGVs in latest fleet decarbonisation effort
Each Lunaz electric refuse truck is equipped with an external camera monitoring system to help drivers see around the vehicle from all angles.
The original wing mirrors have been replaced with digitised versions that eliminate rear and blind spots around the vehicle.
Unlike standard mirrors, these mirrors operate under all conditions, including rain, snow and total darkness, increasing visibility and safety.
The driver can also see what’s directly in front of and below the vehicle via a dedicated downward-facing camera.
In addition to the cameras and mirrors, an object detection system instantly picks out cyclists, pedestrians and other potential hazards, alerting the driver via the dashboard display screen.
READ MORE: Lunaz announces new campus as ‘world’s first’ EV upcycling facility
Lunaz founder David Lorenz said: “From the outset, we’ve built our up-cycled electric refuse trucks to meet the DVS five-star standard for driver visibility – the highest available.
“This accreditation enables operators to obtain an HGV permit from London boroughs without any further documentary evidence or vehicle modifications.
“Having our vehicles fully prepared for operation in the capital is an important step toward widespread adoption.
“They’re cheaper and better-equipped than their all-new electric equivalents, representing greater value for money for local taxpayers, alongside the environmental benefits of our clean-air technology and upcycling process.”
When the truck is converted to electric, Lunaz reports that the restoration and conversion process captures more than 80% of its embedded carbon.
Achievements and innovations in clean air vehicles and road safety will be celebrated at the third annual CiTTi Awards, which will be held on 26 November 2024 at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Nominations officially open in March 2024. Please visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector.
