The first all-electric automated side loader refuse truck from BYD was presented to the City of Palo Alto, Calif., and GreenWaste, the city's waste hauler service provider. 

The BYD electric refuse truck uses its batteries for propulsion, as well as to power the hydraulic system for the body. The electric refuse truck has 76 miles of range and requires only two to three hours maximum to fully charge. The truck will operate on a variety of service routes in the community from urban to residential neighborhoods including streets with steep inclines.

The truck was unveiled in a ceremony at City Hall with Palo Alto Mayor Greg Scharff, who praised BYD and GreenWaste for its efforts to bring the electric refuse truck to the Bay Area.

“I want to thank the manufacturer, BYD, and our refuse hauler, GreenWaste, for building and piloting the Bay Area’s first all-electric reuse collection truck,” Scharff said at the unveiling. “It will save 72 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions a year and help us meet Palo Alto’s ambitious goal of an 80% reduction in these emissions by 2030.”

According to BYD, GreenWaste and the City of Palo Alto will realize savings of more than $16,000 annually due to the truck’s efficient electric motors and controls and the less maintenance that is required for the propulsion systems. GreenWaste will monitor and collect data from the electric refuse truck’s routes to determine if additional electric refuse trucks can be purchased in the future to replace its entire diesel truck fleet.