New electric trucks for Palmerston North

Two new fully electric trucks will replace two diesels at the Palmerston North City Council for collecting recyclables and solid waste.

A $350,000 grant from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) Low Emission Vehicle Contestable Fund will allow purchase of the two purpose built trucks and help towards charging infrastructure.

“This grant enables us to launch the transition to an electric vehicle fleet, where it might not have otherwise occurred until the technology for medium-sized trucks is more established,” council logistics and support manager Paul Compton says.

The funding will go towards half the cost of buying the two electric trucks, as well as 50% of the installation costs for a charging infrastructure at the Awapuni Resource Recovery Park.

The council will be monitoring and reporting on the performance of the electric trucks compared to conventional trucks.

The new vehicles will be operational by February.