New Haven shows off Connecticut’s first electric garbage truck

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — The City of New Haven will make some “green” history in Connecticut on Wednesday morning when the state’s first electric garbage truck will hit the street.

With the help of federal and state grants, the truck manufactured by Ohio-based Battle Motors cost the city about $336,000. That’s about $80,000 less than a diesel equivalent. City officials said the EV will save taxpayers about $15,000 per year in energy costs and as much as $26,000 per year on maintenance.

“I know (the crew) is even happier that they don’t have to check the oil every morning,” New Haven Director of Public Works Michael Siciliano said.

The new electric garbage truck is also very quiet, which city officials said will be a blessing for neighbors during early-morning garbage runs.

“This baby, behind me, believe it or not, is on right now,” New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said. “You almost can’t hear the vehicle because it is so quiet.”

However, city leaders said the best thing about green garbage haulers is their impact on climate and health.

“Heavy duty vehicles, even though they are only five percent of the vehicles on the road here in Connecticut, contribute more than half of the smog-forming air pollution,” Steven Winter, executive director of the Office of Climate and Sustainability in New Haven, said.

City leaders said that removing one diesel garbage truck from the road is the equivalent of eliminating 14 cars’ worth of air pollution.

The city plans to initially use the electric truck only for recycling. Its lifespan is projected to be 15 years. New Haven plans to order another one if a trial period works out.

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