Electric garbage trucks are the future and an ecological, safe solution for residents. The company’s latest investment—the construction of a photovoltaic installation—allows electric vehicles, such as the new Citroën delivery van, to be charged. In this way, clean energy from photovoltaics is fully used both to operate the offices and to charge vehicles.
– The company’s latest investment was the construction of a photovoltaic installation, but to make it a comprehensive system, we bought an electric delivery vehicle that we can charge using the energy produced, and now we are testing a Volvo electric garbage truck – says MZGK president Krzysztof Basiak.
MZGK is testing an electric garbage truck. The price of such a vehicle is still very high: for 2 million, three combustion-engine garbage trucks can be purchased. However, president Krzysztof Basiak hopes that when regular production of electric garbage trucks begins, their price will fall. He also plans to use various subsidies and programmes supporting environmental protection.
– Buying a garbage truck for 2 million is too much – says the president. – We calculated that we could even buy three vehicles for that price. Such garbage trucks are demonstration vehicles. We hope electric garbage trucks will become more accessible and mass-produced, and that their price will fall. Then we will certainly try to buy one. Another possibility is vehicles powered by natural gas, and we are also considering such a vehicle. Next year we will test one, and perhaps even buy it. We have to think about this and adapt the company to new challenges. The Act on Electromobility requires this of us; it applies to us, and by 2025 we must have such equipment in our fleet. That is why we are seeking external funds to subsidise the purchase of electric vehicles. We have submitted an application for PLN 25,000 in funding for a new delivery vehicle. Such a vehicle costs PLN 125,000 – explains Krzysztof Basiak.
The first zero-emission vehicle purchased by MZGK is a Citroën delivery van, intended exclusively for the procurement department and travel around the city. The vehicle can move freely through the city’s historic centre and enter the market square. It is charged with energy produced by MZGK’s photovoltaic installation. In June 2022, the company purchased a new wall-box charger for this purpose, and the vehicle takes a maximum of 60 minutes to charge. With a fully charged battery, it can travel 270 km.
How is the Volvo electric garbage truck performing?
Two days of testing show that the electric waste-collection truck is efficient and quiet, its battery lasts a very long time, and the drivers operating the Volvo praise the automatic transmission for its convenience and intuitive operation.
– The Volvo came to us for testing – says Marcin Czechowski, deputy manager of the vehicle maintenance department. – It is a completely zero-emission vehicle with four lithium-ion batteries. These are traction batteries used to operate the vehicle in the field. In addition, the vehicle has two standard auxiliary batteries. After charging, the vehicle can travel approximately 270 km. As for the work cycle, it involves operating in the city and travelling to the Municipal Waste Neutralisation Plant in Trzebień. After yesterday, we can see that the vehicle travelled 150 km and still had 50% battery remaining. The vehicle has a built-in charger; we use a cable supplied with 222 kW of power. Charging takes 10 hours, but if there is interest and the vehicle stays with us, we can obtain a new charger that will reduce charging time to one hour. Thanks to photovoltaics, we produce electricity from solar energy – the manager adds.
The Volvo garbage truck is quiet: its noise level is 40 decibels, while a standard garbage truck has a noise level of 78–80 decibels. The vehicle collects 21 m³ of waste. During the test, it operates at full power with the air conditioning on to test the battery’s capacity. The crew operating the vehicle is very satisfied, and drivers working with Volvo trucks praise the vehicle’s manoeuvrability and the ease of using the automatic transmission.
Selective Municipal Waste Collection Point
MZGK invites residents to use the point. Simply bring sorted waste, and it will be accepted free of charge by MZGK employees.
Point address details:
- address: 59-700 Bolesławiec, St. Staszica 6
- tel./fax: 75 / 734 62 71 ext. 34
- opening hours: Mon.–Fri. 8:00–18:00 and Saturday 8:00–16:00
- e-mail: mzgk@mzgk.com.pl