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23 January 2017, 13:21

Plans to batch produce compact municipal utility vehicles in Belarus in 2018

MINSK, 23 January (BelTA) – There are plans to start making compact municipal utility vehicles for cleaning streets in Belarus as from late 2018, BelTA learned from Igor Lygach, the project's supervisor, deputy director of the computer-assisted mechanical engineering center of the united mechanical engineering institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.

According to the source, the mechanical engineering institute is working to develop a compact utility vehicle for sweeping and cleaning streets in summer and distributing salt in winter. The vehicle will be designed to clean places where large vehicles can hardly fit such as sidewalks, public gardens, parking lots and so on. A prototype will be made in late 2017. It will have to pass field tests in Minsk. If necessary, the design will be adjusted in order to start batch production as from late 2018. Such vehicles have not been manufactured in Belarus so far.

Belarus' demand for compact municipal utility vehicles is estimated at several hundred. The vehicles will come in handy in Minsk, the oblast capitals and the district capitals. There are plans to export the vehicles, too. “We are going to start with Russia and move on to non-CIS states later on. We intend to export about 60% of the output,” noted the project's supervisor.

The vehicle will be 1.3 meters max in width, up to 2m high, and about 4m long. It will boast high maneuverability, mobility, and the ability to take care of mechanized cleaning and maintenance of urban infrastructure all the year round. “Besides, it will need an engine of under 90hp. We intend to use an Italian engine initially but later on manufacturing will be localized in Belarus. We have already contacted Minsk Motor Plant, which develops engines for compact machines, too,” added Igor Lygach.

The municipal utility vehicle will be fitted with tools to sweep and vacuum streets in summer and to distribute salt in winter in addition to a small blade to clean sidewalks. In the future the choice of implements will be increased by more than ten. Close attention will be paid to how the vehicle looks. “Our product has not been patented yet, this is why we will demonstrate the final look of the vehicle later,” explained the deputy director of the computer-assisted mechanical engineering center of the united mechanical engineering institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.

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