Wiltshire Council is trialling an electric Refuse Collection Vehicle (RCV) to support the council’s mission to be Carbon Neutral by 2030

Wiltshire Council has invested in a 100% electric Refuse Collection Vehicle (eRCV) which will be trialled around the county by its waste collection contractor, Hills, in support of its objectives to reduce carbon emissions and modernise its fleet to include low carbon vehicles.

Starting this month (January), the trial aims to test the performance of the vehicle in real operational settings across a large rural county and help assist in the forward planning for Wiltshire’s future waste collection fleet requirements.  

The Volvo FE Low Entry Cab RCV will be trialled at operating depots and assigned to household waste collection rounds, initially starting in largely urban rounds in the northern areas of the county including Calne and Chippenham. It will later be trialled in the city of Salisbury. The trial will later look to assess the vehicle’s performance in semi-urban, semi-rural, and finally the mainly rural rounds.

Cllr Dominic Muns, Cabinet Member for Waste and Environment, said “This is an exciting collaboration with Volvo Trucks, which has a wealth of experience in the electric vehicle market. The 100% electric RCV contributes to cleaner air as it does not produce exhaust gas. This trial brings us a step closer to achieving our mission to modernise the council’s waste collection fleet to low carbon vehicles and ultimately to reduce carbon emissions. 

“This trial will establish what percentage of collection routes could realistically be achieved with an electric vehicle, fully testing the capabilities of eRCVs in Wiltshire. It will play a significant role in determining the future procurement of waste collection vehicles and how they can potentially be utilised across the county.

“We can’t wait to see it on the road soon throughout our communities across the county.”

Ed Dodd, Deputy Chief Executive of the Hills Group, said: “We are excited to support Wiltshire Council’s carbon neutral mission with the trial of the Volvo 100% electric RCV. Our crews are looking forward to testing the eRCV across a variety of collection routes in the county.

“It is another example of our commitment to operating sustainably, which already includes route planning to minimise mileage and driver training to ensure that vehicles are driven in a careful manner to help optimise fuel efficiency.”

Amy Stokes, Head of e-Mobility, Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland, said: “Our electric technology is designed to deliver performance, efficiency, and environmental benefits. This partnership with Wiltshire Council and Hills Group allows us to bring those advantages to life. It’s an ideal opportunity to support the council’s plans for a cleaner, more sustainable waste collection fleet. We’re eager to demonstrate how electric trucks can meet the demands of diverse operating environments, from urban areas to rural rounds.”

To further improve the sustainability of the vehicle, the eRCV has been adapted to include TRAILAR solar panels on the roof supporting the power requirements of the cab. 

Adam Buckley-Mayes, Principal Engineer, TRAILAR, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with Wiltshire Council to support their mission to be carbon neutral by 2030 and we’re committed to delivering sustainable transport for all. The benefits of adding solar to the eRCV is the extended vehicle range, reduced charging time, proactive battery maintenance as well as powering all the onboard electrical equipment therefore reducing requirements on the vehicle’s battery.

“We look forward to reviewing the solar benefits for Wiltshire once the vehicle is out in operation”.

More information about Wiltshire Council’s waste collection services can be found at https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/rubbish-and-recycling.