The truck is powered by a new Euro 5 compliant, 7-litre, 6-cylinder diesel engine, which generates 300 hp. The engine is turbo charged and the wide torque range and quick response to accelerator ensures excellent driveability, making it an ideal engine for urban and regional distribution.
Gary Bone, General Manager Volvo Trucks, says preliminary customer testing has yielded excellent results.
"In recent trials customers have been extremely impressed by the driver comfort due to the four-point coil cabin suspension and air ride drivers seat. Also, the light steering means the truck is easy to manoeuvre in tight corners.
"The truck has been engineered to require lower engine RPM to lift the bins, making it significantly quieter in and out of the cabin. The customers also noticed there was no wheel or brake squeal," he said.
Cleanest
The FE Dual Control is the only side-loader in Australia that can deliver 2011 emissions standards (Euro 5), today, reducing Nitrogen Oxide emissions by a staggering 43% compared to current Euro 4 regulations.
The FE trucks are built in the world's first automotive CO2 neutral factory in Ghent, Belgium where solar, wind and hydro power combine with energy conservation techniques to eliminate CO2 emissions.
Quietest
The Volvo FE Dual Control is the only side-loader in Australia that features a unique, noise reducing compression braking system, ideal for sensitive residential and city areas.
The EBR engine brake with exhaust pressure governor provides 130Kw or 188Kw of engine retardation. This system works in conjunction with the exhaust brake to ensure minimum braking noise.
Further, a thick layer of insulation under the cab reduces engine noise. Superior aerodynamics help eliminate wind noise and the all-round insulation of the cab further reduces road noise to keep cabin sound levels low, making the working environment for the operator quieter.
Safest
The Volvo FE Dual Control is the only side-loader in Australia that offers an Electronic Braking System (EBS) for near instantaneous brake response. The system includes Hill Start Assist to reduce the risk of rolling back; Traction Control to improve durability in slippery or uneven road conditions and, on truck and trailer combinations, Electronic Brake-Force Distribution to enhance stability.
It is the only waste truck that offers all wheel disc brakes as a standard.
The Volvo FE features telescopic fully tilt adjustable steering wheels on both sides of the cab, using two dedicated steering boxes for maximum handling, durability and reliability.
"To top it all off, the Volvo FE Dual Control is engineered to require less maintenance, less oil changes, less fuel and less downtime," says Gary Bone, "making Australia's Best Waste Truck, the perfect fleet truck."
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