Electric truck proposal for Sheffield

Sheffield City Council has applied for funding to convert two of its retired refuse collection vehicles to run on the waste taken away from households in the city.

The project would reduce the dependence on diesel by converting existing vehicles at the end of their operation life and allow the waste contractors to continue to use vehicles that would normally be replaced with new ones, saving the council money. Under this scheme, the vehicles could operate for at least another seven years.

The bid involves Sheffield based firm Magtec Systems Technology, the largest manufacturer of electric vehicles which has exported over 500 around the world, including 350 electric trucks to America, a fleet of electric vans to Europe and two electric buses to the Himalayas.

Bryan Lodge, cabinet member for Environment and Streetscene, said: “To be able to trial electric refuse vehicles in Sheffield is a fantastic opportunity, allowing it to be one of the first cities where the vehicles are powered by our waste, using a system that has been designed and manufactured here.”