Snow go for NYC’s electric garbage trucks that can’t handle winter weather
The Sanitation Department’s carbon neutral goals face the limits of electric-powered vehicles.
gothamist.com
27 Dec 2022 ~~ By Sophia Chang
Don’t count on seeing electric garbage trucks plowing snow from city streets any time soon.
The city Department of Sanitation's goals to become carbon neutral are clashing with the limits of electric-powered vehicles.
The department aims to switch all 6,000 vehicles in its fleet from gas to electric as part of the
state’s goal to reduce emissions by 2040. But city officials say they haven’t found electric garbage trucks that are powerful enough to plow snow.
The department has ordered seven electric rear loader garbage trucks, custom-made by Mack and costing more than $523,000 each, with delivery slated for the spring. Used for curbside trash collection, the department’s current rear loader truck fleet runs on diesel and is outfitted with plows to clear streets during snow season.
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“How much power do they have? Can they run 12-hour shifts without a charge? I don't know,” Nespoli said.
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“With current technology, full electrification isn’t possible now for some parts of our fleet, but we are monitoring closely and really hope it will be,” Gragnani said.
Commentary:
Look to lots more of these high-profile EV fails.
On the bright side. Each EV garbage truck that catches fire and burns clears about 80 feet of road of ice and snow.
All we need is another blizzard like 1947, 1960,1969, 1978, 1982, or 1996. EV plows will not be able to work straight 12 hour shifts or longer.