Archive, Product News

Work-ready electric waste trucks launched in Victoria

Australian innovation unveiled as government announces EV charging investment

 

South-east Melbourne’s City of Casey will be the first Australian council to feature a 100 per cent electric truck in operation, with the first residential hard-rubbish waste collection vehicle set for service this month.

Launched at the Waste Expo Australia today in an all-local collaboration, waste management company WM Waste Management Services took delivery of the trucks, which are stripped-back Iveco Acco and Mercedes-Benz Econic cab-chassis fitted with a drivetrain and associated components by Dandenong-based SEA Electric, and a rear loader and compactor built by Queensland-based Superior Pak.

iveco.JPG

The vehicles contain 220kWh NMC batteries, allowing for a range of about 250 kilometres on a 23,500 gross vehicle mass with a limited top speed of 100km/h.

A 22kW onboard charger allows the truck to be plugged in and charged from any three-phase power source, and a full charge takes eight hours, although rapid-charging options are said to be explored.

The battery life is estimated to be 3,500 charge cycles or operational life of 10 years in day-to-day applications.

WM Waste had previously taken delivery of the first hybrid trucks in 2008 and managing director Mark Jeffs says the company continues to seek out innovation and sustainability in its operations.


SA waste firm looks at powering own electric propulsion. Read more, here


“I am very pleased to bring electric trucks to the streets of Melbourne and I congratulate the City of Casey on this significant commitment,” Jeffs says.

“Collecting rubbish this way will help to make the environment more sustainable for future generations with this unique electric vehicle technology.

“These vehicles are better for the rate payer, quieter than diesel or petrol vehicles, lower maintenance than normal trucks and last longer.”

The launch was attended by Victorian energy minister Lily D’Ambrosio, who subsequently announced a government investment in electric vehicle charging in the state.

Australian business Chargefox was granted $1 million to build  Australia’s first ultra-rapid vehicle charging sites in regional towns Euroa and Barnawartha North.

It has developed an electric vehicle charge-management software platform and will create two charging sites with multiple charging stations at each.

It’s claimed the stations will charge up to 400km of range in 15 minutes.

“Electric vehicles are the future, and we’re ensuring Victoria is at the forefront of this transition,” D’Ambrosio says.

 

Previous ArticleNext Article
Send this to a friend