A 16-tonne electric recycling lorry is being trialled by Bath & North East Somerset Council as part of efforts to reduce emissions.
The electric truck on trial | Photo © B&NES Council
The vehicle is being powered by electricity generated from solar panels at the Keynsham Recycling Hub.
The DAF truck is currently being used for recycling collections across the district. It has a larger capacity than the council’s existing fleet, meaning it can collect more recycling before needing to return to the depot.
The waste and cleansing operations operated by the local authority are already supported by 12 electric vehicles.
Investment is being set aside to potentially replace several diesel-fuelled refuse collection vehicles with electric-powered ones in 2026.
The trial will help inform whether this type of vehicle would be a suitable upgrade for the council’s recycling collection vehicles, which are due for replacement in 2027.
Councillor Tim Ball, cabinet member for neighbourhood services, said: “It is exciting to see the electric recycling vehicle on the road collecting residents’ recycling while contributing to cleaner air.
“It’s also fantastic that we can power the vehicle through solar energy from Keynsham Recycling Hub – a renewable and clean energy source that lowers our fuel costs too.
“This trial will tell us what can be achieved with a larger capacity vehicle and fully test its capabilities, helping inform us how we can get closer to our aim to make our collections cleaner and greener.”
