Electric Refuse Collection Vehicle: Testing in Real World Environments

Four electric refuse collection vehicles will be tested on real streets in two UK locations, each retrofitted with a lightweight electric drivetrain that saves nearly half a tonne in weight. This matters because diesel-powered bin lorries are heavy, inefficient, and a major source of urban air pollution. Current electric alternatives often require special weight exemptions to carry a full load of rubbish, because the batteries themselves are heavy. By stripping out the old diesel engine and replacing it with a lighter electric system, these repowered vehicles can haul a full payload without needing any regulatory derogation. The project also develops new business models—such as leasing or pay-per-use arrangements—to make electric refuse trucks affordable for cash-strapped local councils. If the trials succeed, the immediate impact is cleaner, quieter waste collection in towns and cities. But the bigger shift is in how public services adopt electric heavy vehicles. Refuse trucks are among the hardest vehicles to electrify because of their stop-start routes and heavy loads. Proving that a lightweight, repowered electric drivetrain works in daily use could accelerate the electrification of other municipal fleets—street sweepers, delivery vans, and utility trucks—without requiring councils to buy expensive new vehicles from scratch.