Electric refuse vehicles are set to start work in Exeter, providing local residents with cleaner air and reduced noise. Starting from 1st July, the vehicles of electric refuse collection vehicles (RCVs) will help the city achieve its target of being carbon neutral by 2030 by producing zero emissions.
Comprised of three Dennis Eagle eCollect 27t electric RCVs, the vehicles will be powered by the Water Lane Solar Park on its completion this year. The arrival of the electric RCVs is thanks to the partnership of Exeter City Council and Specialist Fleet Services (SFS). A Northampton-based fleet management company and part of the Paragon Banking Group, SFS are the first UK contract hire company to install eCollect RCVs.
Bob Sweetland (pictured above), Managing Director, SFS, said, “The decarbonisation of Exeter’s RCVs is an important step in the rollout of commercial electric vehicles and SFS are proud to be the first contract hire company to install a fleet of eCollects RCVs in the UK. We are confident that the benefits of the new fleet will be appreciated by both crews and residents, and provides an excellent real-world example to other local authorities of what is now possible and how it can be achieved.”
Cllr David Harvey, Exeter City Council’s Lead Councillor for City Management, said, “The introduction of three brand new electric refuse collection vehicles into our fleet is fantastic news for Exeter and its residents. The vehicles are clean and quiet and are a vital step on our journey towards a carbon neutral City. When it is complete the new solar array at Water Lane will supply power to the vehicles further reducing the carbon impact.”
