Electric bin lorries cost £157k more, despite savings on charging & maintenance. Council defends costs for sustainability goals.
Electric lorries save on charging, saving about £10,000 versus diesel fuel costs. Electric costs £76,191 compared to diesel’s £86,434. Maintenance is also cheaper for electric, with roughly £42,000 in savings.
Yet, electric bin lorries remain expensive. Each one ends up costing around £157,000 more, with the tally for electric at £515,062 and diesel at £358,974.
These numbers are based on eight years of use, and the council has seven lorries in its fleet. The council defended the extra costs, acknowledging questions during budget cuts.
Andy Hadley discussed green vehicles, emphasizing his desire for a sustainable alternative. He believes it’s better than using diesel in the long run; they have already added electric vehicles.
Seven electric bin lorries now exist, along with sixty-seven electric vans. Since 2021, the council has added the vehicles, which decreased carbon emissions and noise levels on streets.
The goal is carbon neutrality by 2030. The plan includes over 100 electric vehicles, aiming to make Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole better and deliver on the council’s promise.
Smaller electric vehicles have proved cheaper compared to petrol or diesel vehicles. Future data will help calculate costs, as the council wants to lead in green fleet transitions.
New rapid chargers will help the lorries do double shifts and carry out more collections. This is expected to reduce costs, with the hope of lowering carbon dioxide levels.
The council approved a borrowing plan involving £18 million for over 100 new electric vehicles to replace the outgoing vehicles. Full council approval is unnecessary.