An all-electric rubbish truck is being developed for use in the Kapiti district, with builders Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) saying it showcases a range of new technologies they have been developing for the heavy vehicle industry.
Managing director Andrew Rushworth believes his company can provide electric drive solutions to the commercial fleet that are not just technically viable. but commercially viable too.
“What we are seeing at the moment is a very faced paced evolution of electric technologies while other markets diminish,” Rushworth told DieselTalk.
“Costs are coming down as performance goes up; a few years ago we costed a vehicle at $1.4 million, last year this was down to $750,000,” he says. “Keeping in mind this was a research project, and involved a very large vehicle, it goes to show how rapidly things are changing.”
The truck will be built from a mix of imported OEM components and locally built and modified items.
“It’s been our belief from both our own commercial activities, and our New Zealand perspective, that we have to be investing in the future and building a business that will take us into the next 20 years, and beyond.
“We want to provide vehicles in two classes – the 6.5-11 ton medium range, and heavy vehicles up to 60 tons in the long term. While there are engineering challenges to overcome in the latter, the science is sound.”
The $200,000 rubbish truck was purchased by the Kapiti district council to replace a 15 year old truck nearing the end of its life. It will have a range of more than 100km and will travel 90km a day, emptying public rubbish bins around the district.
The truck, which will be in service for around 12 years, will be stored at the council’s Paraparaumu depot, where it will be re-charged overnight.
Rushworth says they engaged in long talks with the council, who required a vehicle that could compete head-on with a diesel equivalent.
“To their credit this wasn’t a decision they took for the sake of it. A lot of people talk green and claim to support local engineering, but the reality is often very different as there are often a number of reasons to say now. However they looked at a number of vehicle solutions, including the various risks and returns, and found our vehicle to be highly suitable for their needs. Operating costs are significantly reduced, not just from a fuel usage perspective, but also in terms of maintenance.”
Rushworth describes ZEV as a consortium of engineering experts, with a range of heavy equipment experience.
“The team here has a vast range of skills. We have guys here who have done a lot of software and electronics for automotive and rail; through to others who design and build transmissions and hydraulic systems.
“This is the first commercial vehicle we have sold but we have been working in and exploring a number of energy system components in other areas. These include industrial equipment and applications of both battery technology, drive systems, and again, electrics and software.
ZEV started out in 2005 but became a business in 2008. Since then they have been developing a product strategy, intellectual property, and international relations for the provision of building heavy electric commercial vehicles.
“We are looking at the total market: providing a robust product into New Zealand, and perhaps Australia as a complete assembly, as well as exporting SKD kit sets globally.”
“We’d like to be doing that next year. It’s fairly bold, but things are going at quite a pace now and we are executing our plan. We have several people watching the rubbish truck project with great interest, and based on its performance we have a number of expressions of interest to follow up.”
