Economy & Tech

Saitama City Adopts Electric Garbage Trucks with Swappable Batteries

Test runs of the EV garbage trucks are to start in April as the city aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and establish a circular waste management system.

Published

2 weeks ago

April 22, 2024

The Sankei Shimbun

Swappable battery-powered electric garbage trucks are being tested by Saitama City. (Photo courtesy of Saitama City)

Read the full story on Japan 2 Earth - Saitama City Adopts Electric Garbage Trucks with Swappable Batteries

Saitama City is set to start trial runs of electric garbage trucks that use swappable batteries in April. The city has partnered with Tokyo-based JFE Engineering to introduce battery-powered garbage trucks that emit no exhaust. Tests are intended to verify the garbage trucks' performance and their contribution to reducing negative environmental impacts. Switching to EVs for waste collection is part of the city's efforts to realize a decarbonized society.

Going Circular

Saitama City has been promoting the E-KIZUNA Project to support the proliferation of EVs. In May of 2023, the city signed an agreement with JFE Engineering. Since then the partners have been working on creating a circular energy waste collection system.

During the demonstration trial, electric power generated at Saitama's Clean Center Osaki waste treatment incinerator will be utilized to charge the swappable batteries at a newly established battery swap station.

Continue reading the full story on Japan 2 Earth to learn more about Saitama City's new initiative and when you can expect to see these trucks in operation.

And find more great articles on the environment and the challenges of achieving the SDGs on our affiliated website Japan 2 Earth (J2E), sparking a transition to a sustainable future.

(Read the article in Japanese.)

Author: Sankei Shimbun