Seattle to Introduce Electric Garbage Trucks

Seattle is ready to debut its first battery-powered refuse trucks, courtesy of Chinese automaker BYD (Build Your Dreams).

The 8R Class-8 electric garbage trucks will utilize two electric motors, rated at 201 hp and 550 lbs-ft apiece, and a 178 kWh battery will allow for a 76-mile range with a 10-ton payload. Recharging will take 1-5 hours, based on charging rates of 40 kW, 80 kW, 100 kW, or 200 kW.

And while BYD hasn’t been overly forthcoming with costs, they have proudly trumpeted the alleged fuel savings of $10,309 and $3,003 on maintenance annually. Based on the rough figures I dug up online, the average gas-powered garbage truck costs $140,000, with lifetime fuel costs of $169,000 and maintenance of $50,000, so make of that what you will.

Needless to say, and like most EVs, the 8R Class-8 trucks are a long-term investment.

“Fleet managers can expect more than $13,000 of operational cost savings annually based on service routes of 60 miles per day/five days a week,” claimed BYD in its official release.

Regarding the batteries, “BYD’s refuse truck battery technology allows for a projected 80 percent capacity after 5,000 cycles or 14 years, if charged every day.”

BYD’s electric garbage trucks will begin operation in the first half of 2019.

Read more here: http://en.byd.com/usa/news-posts/press-release-byd-introduces-class-8-battery-electric-refuse-truck-for-north-american-market/