Basildon Council electrifies food waste collection fleet

authority by 2030 with a borough target of achieving carbon net-zero status by 2050,’ commented Councillor Kevin Blake, Cabinet Member responsible for Carbon Reduction.

“I am pleased that we are the first local authority to offer a zero-emission food waste collection service in the UK,” said Russell Markstein, chief commercial officer, NRG Riverside.

short journeys within the M25 with plenty of stopping and starting.

“When we were using regular diesel the MPG averaged 11.5. During a similar month this year, with comparable journeys completed, it was 13 MPG.

“Furthermore, lorries of this size need to use specific fuelling stations to re-fill with diesel. This takes planning and time. With our HVO tank on site, there is no queuing or forethought required – the fuel is waiting each morning, allowing us to get on with our deliveries.”

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EV charging company Mer is supporting the AA’s electric breakdown vehicles by installing chargers at the drivers’ homes, where the vans are parked over night. The AA also required EV chargers that were compatible with Mina Homecharge. This is a software platform which ensures that employees don’t pay for charging work vehicles at home, as the employer is billed directly.

Basildon Borough Council has rolled out seven fully electric food waste trucks as part of a contract hire agreement with NRG Riverside, which includes full service and maintenance provision, saving the local authority over 900.000kg of CO2 over the contract’s lifetime.

Basildon’s first high-spec 12.5tonne Electra eCargo went into service in April 2023, with the entire fleet operational at the beginning of July.

The vehicles have been provided on contract hire by NRG Riverside, allowing the Council to benefit from the latest low-emission vehicle technology without requiring a large cash outlay, no risk and fixed price over the agreement term.

The Electra eCargo Micro XHD vehicles feature a payload of 7900 kg with 140kWh battery capacity and a range of up to 250 km. The 150 KW DC fast-charge capability means the trucks can be double-shifted and exceed their range by over 100 miles in under an hour. Having been designed with a very short wheelbase of 3330 mm makes them easy to operate and manoeuvre in busy city centres and narrow streets.

“Basildon Borough Council spent considerable time reviewing the services we offer to our community and ways to assist climate change issues within the borough. We are working hard to become a carbon net-zero

“We have been working in partnership with Basildon Council since 2011, when we developed a high-tech workshop together while taking on the local authority workshop staff. We helped fulfil the Council’s ambitions by working with local colleges to create an apprentice scheme and recruiting local apprentices and engineers.

“We have supplied Basildon with the highest quality vehicles since we first worked together. Our arrangement started with providing the cleanest Euro V diesel trucks and equipping the entire waste collection fleet with all-electric bin lifts. Now, we have reached another milestone by delivering the country’s first municipal fully electric food waste fleet to Basildon in record time.”

Ben Smith, MD, Electra Commercial Vehicles, commented: “The eCargo is the perfect solution to meet the requirements of the Government’s new food waste collections regulations nationwide. Basildon’s new trucks are the first electric waste collection vehicles in the 12.5-tonne weight range and size. We are delighted that Basildon is the first local authority in the country to roll out a fully electric food waste collection service thanks to another of our groundbreaking zero-emissions waste platforms.”

Simon Ungless, group fleet manager for the AA said: “For our roll-out of electric patrol vans we needed a partner who could make the entire process simple and hassle-free for our drivers. Mer is able to provide an end-to-end solution, from procurement and installation to service and repair. Every installation to date, including my own, has been very smooth and straightforward.”

Emma Spark, head of business charging for Mer, said: “We are extremely proud to be supporting the AA’s roll-out of all-electric first response vehicles. While this is an ongoing process, we are already working with other elements of the AA to look at further expanding our relationship.”

Mer installs 7kW chargers at the homes of AA van drivers, enabling them to fully recharge the vehicles overnight. The smart charger also integrates with Mina Homecharge. In addition, AA drivers can access Mer’s public charging network via the Mer Connect app.

Emma added: “Mer understands the EV charging procurement and installation process from start to finish. Our expertise coupled with our position as an independent provider enables us to go above and beyond a standard installation for the AA. We were able to supply the right charging infrastructure for its drivers, while also providing additional integration capabilities for the AA as a business.”

Andy Eastlake, CEO, Zemo Partnership