Electric lorry idea binned in Walsall for now
Noisy bin lorries will continue to wake Walsall residents up for a few more years yet – after an electric truck trial failed to impress.
Walsall Council trialled the electric bin lorry in the summer and, while impressed with how silent it was in comparison with the current fleet, a review of the performance raised doubts on whether it could cope in winter months.
But the idea hasn’t been consigned to the bin forever with bosses saying they will keep track of improving technology and cost effectiveness over the next few years.
The issue was discussed at an economy and environment scrutiny committee meeting on Thursday where the authority’s action plan on becoming carbon neutral by 2050 was discussed. As part of the plan, the council is looking to reduce emissions and become cleaner and greener.
Things being targeted include reducing the amount of gas and electricity used in council buildings as well as transforming its vehicle fleet.
Councillor Adam Hicken was appointed as the authority climate change champion while a programme manager will be hired to drive schemes forward and secure external funding.
Councillor Oliver Butler, portfolio holder for clean and green said: “The electric bin lorry was a brand new vehicle with a perfect battery on a 20 Celsius day, so conditions were perfect.
“But I think we’d be in a lot of trouble on a freezing winter’s day with old batteries, as it wasn’t a particularly good performance in the summer.
“Will we go out and convert all vehicles electric tomorrow? No. Would we do it in 10 years? Maybe. 20 years? certainly.
“That’s not because we are against climate change but there is the issue of the reliability of the fleet and what the capability of what we can deliver.
“We don’t want bins unemptied at the side of the road because the lorry is at 12 per cent and given up the ghost to go back to the depot.”
Councillor Hicken added: “When you do trials of electric bin lorries, you find out a lot about the weaknesses that are there.
“But the technology is improving each year by the looks of it. I don’t think it will be long before we have vehicles that meet the requirements we have in Walsall.
“I for one understand we can’t go 100 per cent electric. We need to get the infrastructure up and running, the manufacturers are still developing better ranges on their vehicles and there’s better battery technology coming. It’s getting there but still not there yet.”
