In an effort to reduce its carbon footprint, a green-conscious UK borough has begun using the world’s first electric garbage truck fueled by the very garbage it collects.
Kirklees Council in Yorkshire recently put the Smith Electric truck with a 40KWh lithium-ion battery pack into service on its streets. The truck collects refuse from 25 bins around the city, then transports it to the Energy from Waster power station. There, the rubbish is burned and converted to electricity, which, in turn, is used to power the truck. The recycled trash generates enough electricity to recharge the truck’s batteries while also contributing about 10 megawatts to the power grid on a daily basis.
Reportedly, the truck can travel about 100 miles per charge at speeds up to 50 MPH, and it has zero emissions.
Besides being environmentally friendly, the truck has another major advantage - especially for those folks whose garbage is collected early in the morning: the truck is virtually silent!
What's Driving This Trend
- Waste-to-energy
- Opportunities for further investment and innovation in garbage-powered and other renewable energy sources.
- Electric Vehicle Fleet
- Potential for increased adoption of electric vehicles in municipal fleets, including garbage trucks.
- Silent Technology
- Demand for quiet and environmentally-friendly machinery in urban areas presents an opportunity for further research and development.
Who This Affects Most
- Municipal Waste Management
- Operators in the municipal waste management industry may benefit from advancements in waste-to-energy technology.
- Renewable Energy
- The renewable energy industry may present investment opportunities in waste-to-energy innovations.
- Electric Vehicle Manufacturing
- Increased adoption of electric vehicles may create demand for further innovations and advancements in electric truck manufacturing.
