City of Calgary – Plug-in Hybrid Refuse Truck

OVERVIEW 

As part of the Action Centre’s Electric Vehicles for Municipalities Program, the City of Calgary added a new plug-in hybrid garbage truck to their fleet. The new truck has a hybrid drivetrain that operates the wheels and also uses electricity to operate the hopper. The total project cost was $610,000 and the City of Calgary received approximately $183,000 from the EVM program.

This project was funded by the Government of Alberta.

APPROACH 

This project was stems from the City’s Green Fleet Strategy, specifically the “modernize” stage whereby the City aims to transition from gasoline and diesel vehicles towards electric options. The overall goals of Calgary’s Green Fleet Strategy are to reduce corporate greenhouse gas emissions through the 2023-2026 business cycle. Pillars of the strategy are to modernize the fleet, educate fleet users, update procurement procedures, and innovate by incorporating new technologies.

RESULTS 

By switching to electric vehicles, the City is eliminating operational emissions, leading to a reduction in environmental impact, as well as significantly lower fuel and maintenance costs. These new electric vehicles reduce overall emissions from the previous models as much as 23% after accounting for the greenhouse gases from the electricity sourced from Alberta’s electricity grid.

Funding from MCCAC and its partners will help subsidize the cost of electric vehicles and charging stations, directly supporting initiatives such as The City’s employee vehicle share program, Flex Fleet, as well as Green Fleet Strategy projects and pilots aimed at improving the energy efficiency of City vehicles and equipment.

Philippa Wagner, Green Fleet Program Manager

Balancing the use of fully electric, hybrid electric and other low carbon vehicles and equipment is one way The City is working to reduce fleet GHG emissions in support of The City’s Climate Strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Both electrification and alternative fuel use will play an important role in reducing emissions from The City’s fleet of vehicles and equipment. Support from these funding programs is playing a critical role in our ability to support emission reduction efforts at The City.” – Philippa Wagner, Green Fleet Program Manager.

Philippa Wagner, Green Fleet Program Manager