City of London gets new fleet of electric refuse vehicles

The City of London Corporation will become the first UK governing body to run a full fleet of electric refuse collection vehicles (ERCVs). 

The vehicles, which will be operated by Veolia, will start their first rounds this month and collect residents’ waste and recycling in the Square Mile. 

The new 18 and 26-tonne trucks will be powered by lithium-ion batteries, rather than diesel, which will help to reduce air pollution in the city.

The vehicles, which are designed for urban environments, can complete a full shift on one charge, 

This operational first will be achieved using new innovative technologies for both the charging infrastructure and the vehicles, which will collect an estimated 20,000 tonnes of residents’ waste and recycling in the Square Mile over the next six years.

The trucks are part of the City Corporation’s plan to ensure that at least 90% of the Square Mile meets World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines for nitrogen dioxide by 2025.

Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Environment Committee, Keith Bottomley, said: ‘These new vehicles will help to further drive down air pollution in the City and improve the environment. Our fleet vehicles emitted about 400 tonnes of CO2e in 2018/19, so this change of fleet is of great significance.

‘We hope this move will encourage local authorities across the country to follow suit in the urgent need to deal with toxic air.

‘This pioneering fleet complements the work we’re doing to help businesses consolidate vehicle deliveries and use more hybrid models.

‘Air pollution is the largest environmental risk to public health with up to 36,000 people dying prematurely every year in the UK.

‘We will continue to take steps to ensure that we are reducing emissions from our entire vehicle fleet, for the benefit of all.’

Photo Credit – City of London Corporation