Oxford Direct Services (ODS), which manages waste collection for the council and local businesses, is assessing how the lorry performs collecting waste from household and business premises across the city.
ODS claims the vehicle, provided by Warwickshire-based lorry manufacturer Dennis Eagle, is the first “purpose-built, fully integrated” electric RCV built by an original equipment manufacturer in the UK.
The trial is taking place between 21 and 23 July. Maria Warner, waste and recycling services manager at ODS, described it as a significant investment and a major step forward for Oxford.
She said: “Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, so clearly it’s important we end this as soon as possible, but diesel engines also produce nitrogen oxide which is harmful to human health.
“That’s why we want to start doing the right thing now – imagine when all the vehicles in the city, not just ours, are electric; what a difference this will make to air, not to mention noise pollution.”
ODS is to take delivery of its first electric RCV in October at the earliest, Ms Warner said.
Vehicle
The new vehicle will have a quieter engine and lifting machinery than existing diesel trucks, ODS says.
“We’re confident this highly efficient and cost-effective vehicle will meet Oxford’s operational needs”
Replacing all 27 diesel RCVs will produce 750 tonnes less CO2 per year, Ms Warner claims. ODS claims each electric RCV will provide £300,000 savings compared to diesel in its lifetime.
Dennis Eagle’s sales and marketing director Richard Taylor said: “The eCollect offers zero emissions and very quiet operation and is designed to operate in busy urban environments.
“We’re confident this highly efficient and cost-effective vehicle will meet Oxford’s operational needs as well as its vision for a cleaner, greener future.”
Oxford
In preparation for the transition, earlier this month ODS installed 32 fast 22kW chargers for electric vehicles and the city’s first 50kW rapid electric charger at its depot in Marsh Road.
This was undertaken as part of Energy Superhub Oxford (ESO), a £41m project designed to integrate and decarbonise energy, heat and transport systems across the city.
The ESO consortium includes Oxford city council, Pivot Power (an EDF Renewables UK company), Habitat Energy, Invinity Energy Systems, Kensa Contracting and University of Oxford.
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