The trials are part of efforts to improve air quality in both locations.
In Sheffield this will see two diesel RCVs retrofitted to have their existing engine and transmission removed and replaced with an electric drive system powered by five 60kWh batteries.
The two vehicles, one of which has now entered service, will be based at Veolia’s 250,000 tonne per annum Energy from Waste facility in Bernard Road, where they will be re-charged using electricity generated from the plant.
A further two electric RCVs are to be used in Westminster, where they will be based at Veolia’s Brent Alperton Central Depot.
Magtec
Propulsion systems for the vehicles have been designed, manufactured and fitted in Sheffield by local firm Magtec, which describes itself as “the UK’s leading supplier of electric vehicle drive systems”.
Marcus Jenkins, founder and director of Magtec, said: “The quickest and most economical way to reduce harmful emissions in our cities is to repower diesel trucks with electric drives.
“Converting one bin lorry to electric is equivalent to taking 30 diesel powered cars off the streets. We are especially delighted that two of the repowered vehicles will be running in our home city of Sheffield.
“Repowering larger fleets of vehicles will accelerate the growth of Magtec and create more high quality engineering jobs and opportunities for young people.
“It will also strengthen the UK’s position as a global leader in technology for electric vehicles and help to increase exports of our world-class products.”
Funding
The Sheffield project is part of a £2.6m national scheme to accelerate the transition to zero emission heavy goods vehicles funded by Innovate UK. The council was awarded £220,000 by Innovate for the battery packs for two Sheffield-based vehicles.
Councillor Mark Jones, cabinet member for environment and climate change at Sheffield city council, said: “Our city is working hard to deliver clean air and green jobs. We are rightly proud of projects such as this alongside our own proposals for a clean air zone to cut nitrogen dioxide.
“I’m looking forward to seeing this bin lorry and another set to be delivered soon powering up Sheffield’s hills and leading the way for a new approach to tackle climate change and poor air quality.”
Magtec sayst that typically a waste collection vehicle is used for seven years at which point the cost to maintain the vehicle typically exceeds the costs to replace it. Normally the vehicles are sent abroad or stripped for parts. The EV r-power can extend the working life of the vehicle for a further seven years, it adds.
The project will put the vehicles into service and conduct a research and development scheme over two years to fully test the vehicles for durability, performance and cost effectiveness.
Gavin Graveson, executive vice president for Veolia UK and Ireland, which will operate the vehicles throughout the trial, said: “This project highlights Veolia’s ongoing investment in clean air solutions across the UK.
“By converting existing vehicles and trialling alternative fleet solutions with forward thinking local authority partners like Sheffield City Council, we are not only preserving resources but are lowering emissions and creating greener cities.”
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