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Veolia to operate new electric refuse collection vehicle fleet in London’s Square Mile
27 October 2021
Earlier this year in March 2021, Westminster City Council and its recycling and waste partner Veolia showcased one of their upcycled electric refuse collection vehicles at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)’ ‘SMMT Electrified 2021’ parade.
If you live or are travelling in the London area you might catch a glimpse of these fascinating vehicles, which are difficult to miss with a large green ‘100% electric’ sign!
Veolia has entered a new contract with The City of London Corporation in which the first Electric Refuse Collection Vehicle (eRCV) will collect an estimated 20,000 tonnes of residents’ waste and recycling in London’s Square Mile. The eRCV will be part of the UK’s ‘first zero emission collection fleet’.
The contract is part of The City of London Corporation’s plan to ensure at least 90% of the Square Mile meets World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines for nitrogen dioxide by 2025.
The vehicles, which formerly ran on diesel, were fitted with new electric engines in 2019 which run on 100% recyclable lithium-ion batteries. The move was part of Westminster City Council’s pledge to become a carbon neutral council by 2030 as well as a carbon neutral city by 2040, in light of the ‘climate emergency’.
In order to preserve the community’s electricity infrastructure whilst creating capacity to support its new electric fleet, Veolia has developed a smart charging system which compares data including shift patterns, available generation and vehicle power requirements. This is processed in an algorithm which determines which vehicles will be charged and when. The eRCVs are expected to complete a full shift on one charge.
According to Veolia, this system will mean that ‘future expansion of electrical demands can be met as further decarbonisation measures are introduced’.
Executive vice-president of Veolia UK & Ireland Gavin Graveston said, “At Veolia we work closely with our customers to deliver greener solutions that also offer value for money. This new electric solution now opens new possibilities for cleaner air in cities, with the potential of recharging the vehicles using electricity generated from the waste they carry via Energy Recovery Facilities. It marks a major step forward towards carbon net zero targets and highlights how local authorities can drive sustainability by using green solutions to address their environmental challenges”.
Chairman of The City of London Corporation’s Environment Committee Keith Bottomely said, “These new vehicles will help to further drive down air pollution in the City and improve the environment. 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 step complements the work we’re doing to help businesses consolidate vehicle deliveries and use more hybrid models. 64,000 die prematurely in the UK every year from breathing polluted air. We will continue to take steps to ensure that we are reducing emissions from our entire vehicle fleet, for the benefit of all”.
We at Marshall Leasing are always interested in the latest developments in electric vehicle technology and are fascinated by these innovative eRCVs. We hope that you find this information interesting.
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Image credit: Veolia
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