Virginia City to Test Electric Refuse Truck

As part of its commitment to build sustainability, the city of Alexandria, Virginia, Fleet Management Division will be test-driving a Mack Electric Refuse truck.

"Electric refuse trucks aim to reduce the amount of fuel emitted into the atmosphere that fuel-burning refuse trucks release idling on streets while operators move from home to home to collect garbage cans," the city stated in a release. 

The zero-emission electric refuse trucks, known for reduced noise, can last up to eight hours on a single charge.

The Fleet Management Division is exploring ways to incorporate “green practices” aligned with the city’s goals to become more sustainable. The division is responsible for maintaining the city’s fleet of 800 on road vehicles and specialized construction equipment.

It was recently named one of the country’s top 50 Green Fleets by the National Association of Fleet Administrators, Inc. for its efforts to make a positive impact on the environment, including several initiatives to reduce vehicle usage and fuel consumption within the city’s Environmental Action Plan 2040 (EAP).

Two years ago, the city became the first municipality in Northern Virginia to add all-electric buses to its fleet. The city’s Dash Bus Service operates 14 electric buses, which don’t produce tailpipe emissions and are quieter than diesel buses. A single electric bus can eliminate up to 70% of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the state’s Department of Transportation.

The city stated that these efforts align with its Environmental Action Plan 2040 and the council-adopted Alternative Fleet Fuel Policy, which focuses on local priorities to mitigate climate change and adaptation.