WM New Zealand’s electric truck fleet has reached two million kilometres travelled.
This achievement marks a major step in WMNZ’s journey towards carbon neutrality by 2050, and showcases the viability of electric vehicles in heavy-duty applications.
The company now operates one of the largest electric truck fleets in Australasia, with 54 fully electric heavy trucks currently in service and plans to reach 55 by the end of 2024.
“This milestone represents not just a number, but a tangible reduction in our carbon footprint, a significant step towards our goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, and a clear demonstration of our commitment to New Zealand’s sustainable future,” said Evan Maehl, managing director of WMNZ.
“Our electric truck fleet has prevented 1,412 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions – a feat that puts our environmental impact into perspective,” said Jitesh Singh, head of fleet at WMNZ.
“This reduction is comparable to the carbon absorbed by nearly 24,000 tree seedlings over a decade, or eliminating the emissions from a car driven for over 5.6 million kilometres.”
The journey to this achievement began in 2016 when WMNZ launched its Sustainability Commitment, the vision of which was to collect waste, use it to generate electricity at landfill and energy parks, then power the collection fleet with that very electricity. The company currently generates 120,000mWh of electricity from landfill sites around the country.
Finding the right conversion partner was crucial. WMNZ teamed up with Netherlands-based EMOSS, a company with a proven track record in electric vehicle conversions. This partnership led to the pilot of three converted diesel trucks in mid-2016, with the first box-body truck hitting New Zealand roads later that year.
With further support by EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority), WMNZ established an EV Innovation Hub in Auckland in 2018, facilitating truck conversions on Isuzu and Hino chassis, and team upskilling in EV operation and maintenance.
Collection trucks travel an average of 200km a day and, while the team was initially concerned with range, the stop-start nature of waste collection – with up to 1200 stops per day – allows for ideal amounts of regenerative braking. The trucks complete a full shift on a single charge.
The latest generation of truck conversion kits are CANbus integrated. The use a Dana electric motor unit producing 195kW continuous/250kW peak power, with 2060Nm continuous/3400Nm peak torque, with direct drive. The 204-cell Lithium Ferrous Phosphate (LFP) battery packs provide 274kWh capacity.
“Our drivers, mechanics, and engineers have embraced this technology, overcoming challenges and paving the way for sustainable transportation,” said Ashley Davenport, senior project engineer – electric vehicles at WMNZ.
“We’re deeply grateful to EECA for their support, which has been crucial in making this journey possible.”
Richard Briggs, EECA group manager – delivery and partnerships, said EECA is proud to have supported WM New Zealand on its electrification journey.
“The electric truck conversion facilities were one of the earlier projects EECA administered co-funding for. These not only allowed WM to build its own fully electric fleet, demonstrating what is possible for the sector and inspiring others to follow suit, but has supported businesses in other sectors to make the switch to electric, too,” he said.
Beyond carbon reduction, the electric fleet contributes to improved public health through reduced particulate emissions and lower noise pollution. It also aligns with WMNZ’s vision of creating a circular solution in waste management, where waste is used to generate electricity that then powers the collection fleet.
Managing director Evan Maehl says: “This milestone represents not just a number, but a tangible reduction in our carbon footprint, a significant step towards our goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, and a clear demonstration of our commitment to New Zealand’s sustainable future.”
