Mustafa Caner Sinano?lu, Ford Trucks Middle East countries manager looks at how changing attitudes are changing our waste management vehicles. By Matthew Treanor
To meet their ambitions of lower harmful emissions, GCC governments are currently considering a number of different initiatives to change vehicle standards and regulations. A huge range of programmes and schemes are now underway that are exploring how emerging technologies such as CNG (Compressed Natural gas) dual fuel engines and electric hybrid vehicles can reduce the impact of vehicles on the regions environment.
To meet its emission targets, the region is also considering tightening existing diesel vehicle one of the highest contributors to harmful emissions standards. Since the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was signed off by 43 countries in 1992, two major standards in Europe and North America have emerged to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases and
particulates, including C0 (carbon monoxide) and NOx (nitrogen oxide), made by diesel vehicles. The GCC has subsequently and gradually fallen behind the progress being made elsewhere in the diesel engines that have been designed to meet standards that have been introduced through a series of staged targets over the past 25 years.
For instance, the current Euro VI standard requires vehicle NOx levels to be as low as 0.4/kWh for heavy trucks compared to the Euro II (7g/kWh) and Euro III (5 g/kWh) engines that are commonly used in the region.
With political momentum and technological progress seemingly opening the door to lower emission standards in the region, it is now a question of when, and not if, there will be a movement to a standard comparable to Euro IV for heavy trucks.
This would be a major landmark for companies that operate in the waste management sector, where there is an understandable need to be as green as possible.
Mustafa Caner Sinano?lu, Middle East countries manager at Ford Trucks, predicts we are likely to see more sustainable and green vehicles on the roads in the near future.
Current global vision supports and improves the motivation to develop greener technologies and various industries, he says. In the GCC, regulations for transportation could signal an increase of emission level to Euro IV and above which will enable vehicle manufacturers to offer environmentally friendly trucks to the markets. At the same time, improvements regarding fuel quality and stricter older vehicle regulations are expected.
Sinano?lu says we are close to being at a stage where green technology is available globally and accessible to regions like the GCC.
Starting with the EU zone countries, new technology engines with green features will become mandatory and will be rolled out to all the countries step-by-step after the implementation costs for new technology decrease; and government, as well as customer, behaviour becomes more sensitive and caring to the world environment, he comments.
He sees the reduction of NOx emissions and particulate levels as crucial to protecting the environment. There are further benefits for the vehicle buyer with the technology being developed leading to improvements in power, performance and efficiency. Features he believes are now standard on Ford Trucks vehicles.
Durability, power, comfort and efficiency are core features of our products and Ford Trucks combines 2-years unlimited mileage warranty and long maintenance intervals with low fuel consumption to keep customer operating costs to a minimum, he says. Passion for innovation is a tradition at Ford Trucks. With Ford Trucks Road Series, many innovative features become your companion on the road to help increase your profits.
Since launching in the region in 2014, Ford Trucks has successfully improved its presence in a number of segments in the construction and material hauling sectors. Its new Ford Trucks Road Series of trucks has a range of features that will appeal to waste management operators and contractors designed to minimise their impact on the environment as well as improve their overall efficiency.
The waste management sector directly touches peoples lives and their ability to live in a healthy environmental area, says Sinano?lu. Often operating at limited times within crowded city streets, the sector requires decreased vehicle down-time and much more fuel efficiency than construction segments. Ford Trucks vehicles meet all the sector demands with respect to its tailor-made total cost of ownership and durable, unique GCC-tested vehicles.
According to Sinano?lu, Ford Trucks has a product range that has been manufactured especially with municipalities and other public procurement agencies in mind.
Some governmental departments have started to request green vehicles in their requirements as well, he says. We have the capability to share solutions that meet all expectations with our business associates by means of our domestic and flexible engineering power when market conditions and customer expectations change.
Sinano?lu explains that the new Ford Trucks Road Series reduces operating costs, thanks to the new Ecotorq engine that, provides fuel efficiency and effortlessly bears the burden of any business.
The Ecotorq engines can deliver different emissions levels, including Euro 3, Euro 5 and Euro 6, he explains.
That means Ford trucks has complied with all environment regulations. Both economically and environmentally friendly, the new Ecotorq engine provides the most appropriate power for various kinds of use.
He adds that there is also a number of power options across its range that can be opted for depending on local regulation or requirements.
For the eco-waste inner city usage road truck segment being green and clean is the main topic. For that reason whatever the given emission target of the countries, fuel economy and efficiency of the engine is so important. Thus, as Ford Trucks, we are delivering 4×2, 6×2 and 6×4 waste management systems vehicles with fuel saver engine variants of 9l with 330PS of power and 12,7l with 430PS of power.
Beyond the engine, he comments that its trucks are equipped with many high-tech features for a safer and more powerful, efficient drive, such as an automated gearbox.
Ford Trucks Road Series also ensures that both your load and your business easily reach their goals. Ergonomic and technological innovations stand out in all models. A selection of 4×2, 6×2, 6×4 and 8×4 road trucks with different cab options and wheelbases accommodate your business needs and the superstructure you want to use.
Ford Trucks is concentrating efforts in the region from its base in the UAE, Kuwait, its recently expanded Kingdom of Saudi Arabia operation and Oman. He says that in addition to waste management operations, the vehicle are also suitable for large construction operators who generate their own large volumes of waste.
Ford Trucks are the best choice for those operators, the heavy axles, 10 mm chassis thickness, Ecotorq engine will enable those operators to carry their extreme loads of solid/liquid waste on time, he says. In addition to that, Ford Trucks is offering excellent warranty conditions applied in all its international markets. The international network of dealers will support those big operators in all regions in order to keep their trucks on road most of the time.
CBNME asks Sinano?lu how Ford Trucks feels about contributing to such an important sector for those living in the region.
Since Ford Trucks started operation in Middle East, we shared our brand value which is Sharing the load. We understand the severe working conditions of heavy loads to carry, long operation times, uptime and operational costs, therefore, we decided to share the load with our customer by offering robust durable features along with Ecotorq engine and an automated gearbox. With this combination, we believe that those specifications are the best to contribute for long relationship.
Building and upgrading towards cleaner fuel
The Middle East is moving towards cleaner fuel that has a lower sulphur content. The traditionally high levels of the chemical have been a major barrier in the regions adoption of modern truck engines. However new methods of processing gasoline and diesel are tempting governments in the Gulf to invest in a new generation of plants that could lead to cleaner engines down the line.
Leading the way are Saudi Arabia and Kuwait who have both spent billions of dollars to reducing sulphur content below 10 ppm (parts per million) in diesel and gasoline.
In Saudi Arabia, upgrades to existing refineries could see a dramatic drop from levels as high as 500ppm as seen in 2012. There are also many initiatives, such as the Ras Tanura Refinery Clean Fuels and Aromatics project, the Riyadh Refinery Clean Transportation Fuel project and the PetroRabigh Clean Fuels project, which share the goal of the Kingdom becoming a close to zero sulphur producer in the very near future.
Kuwait has spent $30bn on its own clean fuels programme and could become the largest producer by 2019 in the Middle East.
The UAE is in throes of expanding and upgrading its Al Ruwais, Jebel Ali and Fujairah refineries. Oman has upgraded at Sohar and Duqm. Meanwhile Bahrain has undertaken a modernisation programme at its Sitra refinery complex.