5 questions about electic refuse trucks

1. How do electric refuse trucks perform when compared with diesel or gas engine trucks?

There are some tremendous advantages and differences in trucks’ abilities when comparing electric vehicles (EVs) with diesel or gas-engine trucks.

1. The first thing many consumers notice is the lack of noise. BEV (battery electric vehicle) trucks run silent. Refuse EVs often drive through neighborhoods without being noticed.
2. From a drivability standpoint, drivers need to adapt to the instant torque offered by BEVs. When pressing the accelerator, the truck moves forward without feathering the throttle. No gear shifting or engine revving is required.
3. When used in neighborhoods, refuse trucks will throttle, move forward, brake and repeat. A BEV truck operator uses regenerative braking to slow the truck, capturing the energy of the truck inertia while also preserving the truck’s brakes.
4. BEVs generate no greenhouse gases. Imagine a refuse truck driver operating a zero-emission truck and the optics for a refuse company that wishes to provide nonpolluting, noise-free service. How could customers not love a refuse company for moving to electric?

2. What’s the difference in BEV maintenance requirements?

Electric trucks have far fewer moving parts when compared with diesel or gas engine trucks. No more oil or oil filter changes are required. Fuel filters, belts, hoses, radiator fluid, transmission fluid and filter changes are all gone.

BEV maintenance requirements for the truck’s suspension and refuse body remain the same; however, the overall cost of maintenance for BEV refuse trucks makes operating them significantly less expensive. Without the ongoing scheduled maintenance, operators enjoy more truck uptime, more productivity and higher profit margins.

3. How long will the batteries last?

Different refuse original equipment manufacturer (OEM) truck builders use different battery types. BYD trucks use BYD’s own iron phosphate battery (LiFePO4, LFP or Fe) batteries. When tested, these batteries can cycle 4,000-plus times (i.e., full charge to full discharge) while retaining 80 percent or more of their original charging capacity. If a truck operates 260 days a year—five days per week for 52 weeks a year—the owner can expect the batteries to provide 15-plus years of service before 20 percent battery degradation occurs. Not all OEMs use this type of battery chemistry and, as a result, cannot project a long life for their batteries. It is very important for an operator to understand the type of batteries a BEV refuse truck is equipped with to properly gauge the truck’s anticipated life span.

4. Is there a difference in cost?

Smart operators generally place greater emphasis on a truck’s total cost of ownership (TCO) versus simply considering the upfront cost. The upfront cost of BEV refuse trucks can be more expensive; however, numerous incentive programs sponsored by states or local municipalities can help operators obtain credits to offset this difference. Through the Inflation Reduction Act passed into law Aug. 16, 2022, the federal government is offering organizations up to a $40,000 tax credit on each BEV vehicle or truck purchased for equipment that weighs more than 14,000 pounds. Combine your incentives with the reduced cost of maintenance, increased productivity and the everyday cost of fueling a truck with electricity versus gas or diesel, and, often times, the TCO over the life of the truck brings thousands of dollars of savings.

5. Any additional insight for refuse organizations?

Trucks that charge overnight are effectively fully fueled, ready for use every morning when deployed. Drivers no longer have to drive to a fueling station and spend their valuable work day idle while fueling.