The Picket Piece, Andover-based company, which harvests and stores energy crops for one of Europe’s largest anaerobic digestion plants, went for the StreamSpace cabs.
All were specified with Mercedes’ six-cylinder 476bhp engines driving through PowerShift 3 AMTs (automated manual transmissions).
Four are 2448 models with small, lightweight 17.5-inch wheels on the mid-lift axles, freeing up chassis space for ancillary equipment.
The fifth Actros unit is a 2548 taking the tag axle.
Tri Counties Biogas has also now ordered three construction-specification Arocs 2553 BigSpace tractors with the 530bhp straight-sixes, for its more challenging farm pick-ups, which are due for delivery in April.
All are the subject of a contract hire agreement with Guildford-based commercial vehicle specialist Translease Services.
“We’re very pleased with our new Actros,” comments transport manager Steve Down.
“Image is important to us and they look great, while the drivers love them for their comfort and all-round driveability, with the automated gearbox particularly popular,” he continues.
“But their fuel efficiency is absolutely amazing, and reinforces the green credentials of our business. At 44 tonnes gcw we’re getting up to 12 mpg on a long motorway run and averaging 9.5 mpg.
“This puts them as much as two miles per gallon ahead of our two Swedish-built tractors, and even further in front of the others, which can only manage 5—6 mpg.”
Down confirms that Tri Counties Biogas opted for small mid-lift axles on four of its Actros to maximise productivity, stating that the firm’s latest 3,300-litre aluminium tank trailers, by Crossland Tankers, offer nearly 29.5 tonnes payload.
The remaining vehicle was specified with the tag axle configuration to accommodate a larger fuel tank and for its enhanced manoeuvrability, which allows this tractor unit to access restricted sites.