Sacramento to Run Electric Garbage Truck on Regular Routes

The City of Sacramento, California, says it will run one of the first all-electric garbage trucks on regular routes in the area.

The automated left side loader garbage truck features a Motiv Power Systems all-electric powertrain, built on a Crane Carrier chassis with a body built by Loadmaster. The city plans to run the truck on residential and recycling routes throughout the city.

Sacramento specified that the truck must be able to meet the same demands placed on all of its garbage trucks, including running three routes per day to remove trash, recycling, and green waste in a downtown neighborhood.

“Reducing harmful vehicle emissions in the Sacramento region is a primary focus of our sustainability policy, and the most effective way to achieve that goal is to implement electric vehicles into our fleet," said Mark Stevens, fleet manager for Sacramento. “The City of Sacramento intends to prove that all-electric refuse trucks are the future of the industry, and we anticipate igniting that trend."

The truck is equipped with 10 battery packs, expandable to 12 packs for future route expansion. Using Motiv’s Universal High Power Charger, the vehicle’s batteries will reach full charge overnight. Sacramento expects to save as much as 6,000 gallons of fuel per year, with the electric truck replacing a conventional diesel refuse truck that averages 2.8 mpg.

Motiv's All-Electric Powertrain uses off-the-shelf batteries and motors, which can be mixed and matched to fit the exact size and duty cycle of the electric truck needed. It can handle EV trucks from medium-duty to heavy-duty, weighing 14,000 pounds to 60,000 pounds, according to Motiv. The All-Electric Powertrain is designed to be assembled using existing diesel chassis infrastructure.

"The value of the City of Sacramento's zero-emission ERV goes beyond lower fuel and maintenance cost and strict payback," said Jim Castelaz, Motiv chief operating officer. "Reducing the amount of diesel-fueled refuse trucks in the city keeps communities safer from toxic diesel emissions.”