Adelaide waste and resource recovery authority East Waste will commission South Australia’s first fully electric-powered waste collection truck in December.
East Waste will install a 30 kilowatt solar system at its Ottaway depot to provide renewable energy to charge the truck’s batteries.
The truck, supplied by Australian company Superior Pak with drivetrain technology from SEA Electric, will be the first in a fleet replacement program.
East Waste Chairman Brian Cunningham said the new truck will replace a diesel-powered truck and remove the equivalent of 20 vehicles generating 63 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.
“This is much more than a terrific environmental initiative by East Waste. It will create financial gain to better manage the cost of kerbside collections of recyclable resources and waste,” Mr Cunningham said.
“We conservatively project that our new electric truck will save in excess of $220,000 over the seven-year life of a diesel truck.”
Mr Cunningham said the truck’s drivetrain generates electricity each time it reduces speed, which returns charge to the batteries.
“Residents in suburban streets will fall in love with our new truck without realising it,” Mr Cunningham said.
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