FCC Environment is seeking support for the uptake of electric refuse collection vehicles across its municipal waste contracts in the UK.
This summer, the company will be touring local authorities with an eRCV hybrid self-charging refuse collection vehicle from its Madrid fleet, to demonstrate the capability of the vehicles within the UK.
[gallery_placement]According to FCC, switching from diesel to electric vehicles would bypass the risk of oil price hikes; while local authorities could charge their fleets from local energy-from-waste facilities.
“FCC has been trialling this zero-emissions RCV in Spain for a number of years,” said David Simpson, UK Head of Fleet, FCC Environment. “With the backdrop of government pressure to phase out diesel, now is the right time to highlight the potential of electric vehicles for the UK’s waste and recycling industry.”
The vehicle, which it will be demonstrating at locations across the country, is electrically powered with an ancillary compressed natural gas (CNG) engine.
FCC Spain
FCC Spain has been investing in R&D into alternative-powered vehicles for 44 years, the company says, and now operates over 1,900 sustainable vehicles in Spain, including 100% electric models, hybrids and natural gas powered vehicles.
Comprising over 10% of the entire of FCC’s Spanish fleet, these vehicles are “actively lowering emissions and noise in urban areas,” FCC notes.
FCC Spain has an entire range of electric vehicles, from narrow street sweepers to refuse compactors.
“We as a nation have to look forward and with government support waste can be transported cleaner and efficiently using zero emission vehicles.”
David Simpson
FCC
Mr Simpson added: “The market is developing rapidly, and the time when we will have cost parity between conventional and alternative-powered vehicles is drawing ever-closer.
“We as a nation have to look forward and with government support waste can be transported cleaner and efficiently using zero emission vehicles.”
Alternative fuels
The news comes as waste firms are increasingly looking at alternative fuels due to a greater focus on air pollution from fleet vehicles.
Earlier this year it was announced that Sheffield city council has applied for funding to convert two of its retired Veolia-operated refuse collection vehicles to run on electricity (see letsrecycle.com story). Grundon Waste Management are also understood to be trialling a hydrogen-diesel powered vehicle is London.
The post FCC promotes uptake of electric RCVs appeared first on letsrecycle.com.
Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
