Three electric 27-tonne Mercedes-Benz eEconic 6x2 refuse collection vehicles (RCV) have joined Leeds City Council’s fleet.
Supplied by Northside Truck & Van, they are fitted with specialist 22 m3 Variopress compactor bodies and rotary three bin lifters from FAUN Zoeller UK. Each truck is expected to offer a CO2 saving of 15 tonnes annually. The vehicles join a fleet of 75 trucks that work six days a week collecting waste and recycling bins.
Chief environmental services officer, John Woolmer, said: “Leeds has chosen to be one of the pioneers driving forward the use of electric domestic refuse collection vehicles. Our three new fully electric RCV’s will be targeted to areas of the city that have the greatest air quality issues and where operating a cleaner, greener and quieter service will have the most impact.
“Collecting domestic waste and recycling with these new electric trucks will mean that over 45 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions will be saved per year. This will contribute to the Leeds clean air strategy that aims to reduce air pollution from homes, industry, agriculture, and transport by 2030.
“It is calculated that the council’s household waste management operations across Leeds already contribute an annual carbon saving of 30,000 tonnes and beginning the move of RCVs to electric will not only add to that but also help promote and show leadership for the city on this agenda.”
The RCVs are fitted with three battery packs totalling 336kWh. Recharging at 160kW can replenish the battery from 20 to 80% in an hour and 15 minutes. The battery is covered by a six-year warranty.
Woolmer added: “We have a long standing, positive working relationship with FAUN Zoeller, Mercedes-Benz and Northside Truck & Van, having operated Econic waste trucks for over 15 years. So, when we learned that FAUN Zoeller were working with Mercedes-Benz to develop a fully electric refuse collection truck, we were excited to get some on the streets of Leeds.”
Councillor Mohammed Rafique, executive member for communities, housing and environment, said: “We are very excited to see the first all-electric bin wagons working in the streets and neighbourhoods of Leeds. In the same year we introduced glass recycling through our green bins, these brand-new vehicles are part of our journey to provide the cleanest, greenest and most efficient service we can for our residents.”
