The first electric rubbish truck in the southern hemisphere is being developed in Otaki to service the Kapiti district.

The battery-powered vehicle is being designed and built by Zero Emission Vehicles, a founding member of the Clean Technology Centre in Otaki, using imported components and its own innovative vehicle electronics and software.

Kapiti Coast District Council is buying the vehicle for about $200,000, to replace a 15-year-old rubbish truck at the end of its life.

Council climate change and energy senior adviser Jake Roos said the truck was an exciting addition to the council's renewable energy initiatives.

"We are aware of electric rubbish trucks in France, the Netherlands and China, but nothing in this part of the world. Rubbish trucks pump out around half a tonne of CO2 every 100 kilometres.

"Their regular routes and start/stop travel make them well-suited to battery electric power."

The compactor truck should be on the road in November, with a range of more than 100km on an overnight charge, and should be in service for about 12 years.

It will travel about 90km a day picking up rubbish from public litter bins around the district, and will be kept at the council's Paraparaumu depot, where it will be charged overnight.

Operating costs, including maintenance, would be substantially less than diesel alternatives, Mr Roos said.

Palmerston North-based ZEV hopes to make more sales in New Zealand and abroad.

Contact Kay Blundell
Kapiti reporter
Email: kay.blundell@dompost.co.nz

 

- © Fairfax NZ News

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