In the last few years battery-electric garbage and recycling trucks have become viable and have started service in a number of locations world wide, including the U.S. city of Chicago. And service is about to start in Sacramento and Los Angeles. The benefits of electrification are significantly reduced fuel and maintenance costs, and reduced carbon emissions. Electric motors also provide a better work environment for the drivers, workers, and residents by eliminating fossil fuel engines and the resulting pollutants. And battery-electric trucks are quieter and can be operated in city neighborhoods during early or late hours, when streets are typically less congested.
Garbage trucks that run on fossil fuels consume great quantities of fuel, in the 2-3 mpg range, and generate significant carbon emissions. Converting these trucks to battery-electric is a significant step that municipalities can take to reduce their carbon emissions and meet climate goals.
Battery-electric trucks are more expensive to purchase initially, but the resulting savings on fuel and maintenance costs over the lifetime of the vehicle more than make up the difference. And as battery-electric truck production increases, initial costs should become more competitive.
Below are links for more info related to different cities and/or manufacturers:
Chicago, battery-electric refuse trucks:
http://torontoist.com/2016/08/what-toronto-can-learn-from-chicago/
Sacramento, battery-electric garbage trucks:
Los Angeles, battery-electric refuse truck (Class 6):
Class 8 Battery - Electric refuse truck:
Peterbilt, battery-electric refuse truck:
https://www.trucks.com/2017/05/09/peterbilt-battery-electric-garbage-truck/
BYD, battery-electric refuse truck:
http://www.byd.com/news/news-396.html
For questions or comments about this topic, contact Frank Blake at frankblake@juno.com