Last month a trial of an electric waste collection truck commenced as part of a joint-council waste contract between the City of Adelaide, City of Port Adelaide Enfield, City of Charles Sturt, City of Marion and waste management company, Cleanaway.
The trial is investigating how feasible the electric vehicle is under actual operating conditions whilst maintaining a consistent and reliable service.
The trial will help the Councils determine how they might transition to electric waste collection trucks in Adelaide, as the technology matures.
The truck being used for the trial is a modified 2018 Dennis Eagle truck, with side loader. It is expected to run for 120 kilometres on active duty before needing to recharge. The truck will be charged overnight for approximately 10 hours and will take place at Cleanaway’s depot in Port Adelaide. Its actual driving range will depend on the terrain, number of stops and driving style. As well as charging from a power point, the truck captures energy from braking and stores it in a battery to power the electric motor.
Benefits of the trial include:
- This truck emits zero greenhouse gas emissions from the tailpipe under actual operating conditions.
- The vehicle is quiet. If the trial is successful it will significantly reduce noise, making early morning or late-night collections possible, which could help ease street congestion.
- Since the South Australia electricity grid now has over 50 per cent renewable electricity supply, and is heading towards 100 per cent, the switch to electric vehicles is a key component of a low-carbon future.
City of Adelaide Lord Mayor, Sandy Verschoor, said: “The trial of a new electric waste truck is a fantastic initiative, and it is an example of how Councils can work together to address climate change and improve sustainability across metropolitan Adelaide.”
City of Marion Mayor, Kris Hanna, said: “Smart councils are working together for a greener future. There is a lot we can do which is right for the environment and, in the long term, saves ratepayers money as well. Climate change doesn’t recognise council boundaries.”
Conan Hookings, General Manager Solids Waste Services, SA/TAS, at Cleanaway added: “In South Australia, we have 150 vehicles on the road each day servicing homes and businesses all over the state. We have an obligation to keep finding ways to reduce the impact of our operations on the environment and the community, which is how we work towards Our Mission of ‘Making a sustainable future possible’. While electric vehicles reduce our carbon footprint and noise levels on the road, our focus remains on delivering a safe, consistent and reliable service to our customers.”
