Lunaz’s upcycled electric RCV ‘passes hill climb test’

The Lunaz Group, of which Lunaz Applied Technologies is one element, was founded in 2018 and remanufactures and electrifies passenger, commercial and industrial vehicles. It claims it has secured growth capital investment from the Barclay, Reuben and Dallal families, as well as David Beckham.

The company is currently testing five upcycled Mercedes Econic RCVs at the Millbrook Proving Ground development facility in Bedfordshire. The RCVs have had their diesel engines replaced with a “fully electric Lunaz powertrain”.

Lunaz says it is subjecting the RCVs to 300,000 miles of durability testing on a cobbled road, more than 500 hours of driver calibration and 800 hours of “energy optimisation”. It is also testing the RCVs’ 56mph top speed continually for more than 200 hours.

During the hill climb component of the testing programme, Lunaz prepared an RCV for a collection round by mounting it with a ‘crusher’ body and putting a driver and two crew in the cab.

The RCV ascended proving ground with a gradient of 1:5 “effortlessly” and with 1,000 newton-metres of torque in reserve, Lunaz says, adding: “This test was critical in establishing LAT’s global application.”

The company says its two-year testing programme will conclude ahead of its first fleet deliveries in 2023.

‘Two lives’

Lunaz says it has also put “significant” resources into testing and improving the noise, vibration and harshness conditions of the RCVs, “to support the wellbeing of the critical workforce who operate these vehicles.”

David Lorenz, Lunaz’s CEO and whose daughter, Luna, the company is named after, said: “I believe that every vehicle deserves at least two lives, and I am extremely proud of the engineers who are in the process of not just delivering but validating this vision.

“Our upcycled electric vehicles represent so much more than technological innovation. They deliver a major improvement for the wellbeing of the drivers and crew who operate these vehicles and provide a critical reduction in the environmental impact all-new refuse trucks make.”