IVECO Eurocargo powers Bucher Street Sweeper
When emission rules tighten and safety standards rise, the engineering challenge isn’t simply to comply, it’s to improve the job the machine was built to do in the first place.
The Eurocargo ML160’s compact 3690mm wheelbase improves access to laneways, cul-de-sacs and kerbside areas.
That was the task facing Bucher Municipal when it began searching for a new truck platform to underpin its latest MaxPowa V65t Truck Mounted Sweeper (TMS). With Australian Design Rule changes mandating higher levels of active safety and a transition to Euro 6 emissions compliance, the company needed a chassis that delivered more than a regulatory tick-box exercise.
The solution came in the form of IVECO’s Eurocargo ML160 — a medium-duty platform that combines low-emission performance, advanced driver assistance systems and the kind of manoeuvrability that makes sense when your daily work environment involves roundabouts, laneways and kerbside precision.
For Bucher Municipal, the move continues a long-standing relationship with IVECO, with previous refuse compactor applications utilising ACCO, Stralis and earlier Eurocargo models. However, this marks the first time the latest Eurocargo platform has been selected locally as the foundation for a dedicated street sweeper.
According to Bucher Municipal Marketing Manager – Oceania Region, Marcus Hughes, upcoming ADR requirements played a decisive role in the decision-making process.
“A move from Euro 5 to Euro 6 emission standards along with the mandatory introduction of Autonomous Emergency Braking ruled out the two cab chassis that we had been using,” Marcus explained.
“We began an exhaustive process to find a replacement chassis and found that the latest generation Eurocargo ML160 not only met the new ADR requirements, but offered other benefits in the application compared to what we’d used previously.”
The MaxPowa V65t delivers a 6.5 cubic metre hopper capacity for extended sweeping productivity.
IVECO has been ahead of the Euro 6 curve in Australia since 2017, with the latest ‘Step E’ engines delivering further reductions in cold-start emissions and particulate matter output. Importantly, the powerplant is compatible with cleaner-burning paraffinic biofuels including HVO and XTL, offering fleet operators greater flexibility in reducing lifecycle emissions.
Despite the environmental gains, the Eurocargo ML160 retains the muscle required for municipal duty, delivering 250hp and 850Nm through a ZF eight-speed fully automatic transmission optimised for stop-start operation typical of sweeping routes.
Safety technology has also moved forward significantly. Autonomous Emergency Braking is complemented by Lane Departure Warning, an Advanced Driver Assistance System package, Emergency Stop Signal that pulses tail lamps under heavy braking, and LED daytime running lamps that improve vehicle visibility in busy urban environments.
Just as important in the sweeper role is agility, and the Eurocargo’s compact 3690mm wheelbase delivers a tighter turning circle than many traditional platforms, allowing operators to work efficiently in cul-de-sacs, laneways and crowded CBD streets while maintaining accurate kerb tracking.
Driver comfort also receives attention, with dual ISRI air-suspended seats providing improved ride quality during long shifts — a factor often overlooked but critical for productivity and operator satisfaction.
Dual ISRI air-suspended seats provide improved comfort for extended urban sweeping duties.
Co-engineered dual-control platform
Developing a purpose-built sweeper involves more than simply fitting a body to a chassis, and Bucher Municipal worked closely with IVECO engineers to tailor the ML160 for its specialised application.
Key components including the exhaust after-treatment system, battery box, fuel and AdBlue tanks were repositioned to allow seamless integration of the sweeping body. Dual-control provisions were also engineered into the platform, incorporating a second steering arm on the front axle along with additional mounting hardware to allow operation from either side of the cab.
The result is a factory-integrated finish inside the cabin, blending Bucher Municipal and IVECO components into a cohesive working environment that feels purpose-designed rather than adapted.
MaxPowa V65t raises productivity and efficiency
Working in partnership with the Eurocargo is Bucher Municipal’s latest MaxPowa V65t body, delivering improvements in suction performance, airflow efficiency and operator usability.
The unit offers a 6.5 cubic metre hopper and payload exceeding 4.8 tonnes, allowing extended operating periods between emptying cycles and improving route productivity.
Central to the performance improvements is Bucher’s Coolflow system, which increases cooling efficiency by directing greater airflow through the radiator and around the powerpack, reducing energy consumption by up to 5kW. Smoothflow technology further enhances suction efficiency while simultaneously reducing operational noise levels.
Operator usability has also been refined, with a standard wireless pendant simplifying hopper emptying procedures while improving safety.
Inside the cabin, a single 10-inch touchscreen console now provides centralised control of sweeper functions, replacing earlier dual-screen arrangements. The interface is accessible from both sides of the cab, improving ergonomics for dual-control operation.
Fleet managers also benefit from Bucher Connect telematics, allowing remote monitoring of vehicle performance and operational efficiency.
IVECO’s Eurocargo ML160 provides the foundation for Bucher Municipal’s new MaxPowa V65t street sweeper.
Strong early feedback from operators
Bucher Municipal has produced four demonstrator units based on the Eurocargo ML160 platform, with vehicles operating around Australia since mid-2025.
Feedback from operators has been encouraging, with drivers highlighting visibility, manoeuvrability, comfort and braking performance as key strengths. Features such as dual-side push-button start and sequential mirror adjustment have also been well received.
And when it comes to the primary task at hand, Marcus notes the MaxPowa V65t delivers exactly what operators expect from a modern sweeper.
“We’re receiving comments on the outstanding visibility, the great turning circle, the high level of comfort and the aesthetics of the Eurocargo,” Marcus said.
“Other feedback is that the brakes are excellent, that the drivers like the push-button engine start on both sides of the cabin and that the way the mirrors adjust in sequence is handy — and the MaxPowa V65t, we’re told, just eats up the leaves.”
For municipal fleets facing tighter environmental regulation and increasing safety expectations, the collaboration between Bucher Municipal and IVECO demonstrates that compliance can also deliver tangible operational gains.
Because when engineering is done properly, cleaner doesn’t just refer to emissions — it applies to the streets as well.
