Waste Management workshop converting diesel trucks into EVs

Waste Management NZ has opened New Zealand’s first workshop dedicated to converting diesel trucks into electric vehicles, as part of its plan to convert 20 of its national truck fleet in the next two years. The workshop is also open to other companies looking to transform their vehicles into EVs.

The New Zealand Government’s Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund, administered by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), contributed NZ$500,000 in 2017 to help build the workshop and convert the first two trucks as part of its commitment to EV development. The first conversion is almost completed and the truck will be used to collect waste from Auckland Hospital.

The workshop was opened by Waste Management Managing Director Tom Nickels, who described the opening as a major step forward for both the company and electric vehicles in New Zealand.

“Our investment in the EV workshop will create a knowledge centre for EV conversion in New Zealand and will help us move towards our long-term goal of a fleet of fully electric vehicles,” he said.

“Our conversion partner EMOSS in the Netherlands has provided the kitsets and knowledge for our team to start completing conversions here in Auckland. We are also looking forward to helping other New Zealand businesses convert their fleets for a more sustainable future.”

Waste Management announced its move towards a fleet of electric vehicles in September 2016. Since then the company has launched the Southern Hemisphere’s first sideloader electric truck for residential wheelie bin waste collections, which has started work on Christchurch streets, with another sideloader electric truck soon to be in operation in Auckland.

This is in addition to the electric box body truck, which started work in Auckland in November 2016, and the 20+ electric cars that Waste Management has added to its light fleet during this time.

“Our move towards electric vehicles reflects our place in a circular economy, where our vehicles can be ‘powered by waste’,” said Nickels. “Through our modern, sustainable landfill and energy parks we generate renewable electricity from the gas we capture from the decomposition of waste that we collect.”

Up to 95% of gas emissions are captured through this process, putting enough power back into the national grid to power over 18,000 homes nationally.