The EV truck is designed to pick-up, empty, hot-wash and steam waste bins to kill pathogens and bacteria (including COVID-19!) and eliminate bad smells. The truck’s other function is to pressure-wash hard surfaces using steam for fast, effective cleaning and sanitisation. Any dirty water is collected within the truck, preventing wastewater from entering local waterways.
Even before the COVID-19 crisis, the requirement from clients for washing and steam-cleaning of waste bins has increased dramatically since the removal of single-use plastic bags and the increase in separated and food waste collections, and we’re excited for the potential of this technology.
The 11-tonne EV truck was co-funded by a governmental Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) grant, which Civic received in 2017. EECA has a dedicated Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund to incentivise New Zealand businesses and organisations to increase electric and low emission vehicle use.
The truck runs around 200km or 8 hours working time before it needs to be charged. Compared to a diesel truck of this size, the reduction in carbon emissions is approximately 25 tonnes CO2-e per year.
We are also proud to say that this is the first truck of its kind in New Zealand and the only hot-water bin washing truck currently in operation in the Southern Hemisphere!