In December this year East Waste will commission South Australia’s first fully electric-powered waste collection truck.
East Waste Chairman Brian Cunningham said the new truck will replace a diesel-powered truck and, with zero emissions, remove from our suburban streets the polluting equivalent of 20 vehicles generating 63 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.
The truck is the first in a fleet replacement program and is supplied by an Australian company, Superior Pak, using drivetrain technology from another Australian company, SEA Electric.
It is valued around $550,000, which is $150,000 more than a diesel version. The extra investment will return financial savings along with a raft of environmental benefits.
“This is much more than a terrific environmental initiative by East Waste,” said Mr Cunningham.
“It will create financial gain to better manage the cost of kerbside collections of recyclable resources and waste. We conservatively project that our new electric truck will save in excess of $220,000 over the seven-year life of a diesel truck. Even with the additional $150,000 purchase price, that is a $70,000 nett saving.”
The cost savings will be even greater if, as expected, diesel prices continue to climb. Moreover, with significantly fewer moving parts than a conventional engine, the new truck is likely to last longer than the seven years of conventional trucks.
Maintenance costs will be reduced by at least two-thirds. The truck’s drivetrain generates electricity each time it reduces speed, returning charge to the batteries and reducing wear and tear; specially to brake pads.
“Residents in suburban streets will fall in love with our new truck without realising it,” said Mr Cunningham.
“With reduced air pollution comes the removal of noise pollution as the truck travels from house to house on bin collection day. It is silent.”
East Waste will install a 30kw solar system at its Ottaway depot to provide renewable energy to charge the truck’s batteries every day.
East Waste is a subsidiary of the Cities of Burnside, Campbelltown, Mitcham, Norwood, Payneham & St Peters and Prospect, the Town of Walkerville and the Adelaide Hills Council.
Story featured in Waste Management Review 21 August 2019: http://wastemanagementreview.com.au/tag/electric-vehicle/
Story featured in Australian Transport News 21 August 2019: https://www.fullyloaded.com.au/product-news/1908/first-electric-waste-collection-truck-for-sa
