New electric street sweeper on trial in Liverpool

As part of a wider plan to introduce a diesel-free fleet of council vehicles in the city centre by 2019, Liverpool City Council is trialling an electric street sweeper to build a cleaner and greener city.

The Bucher CityCat 2-2-ev cleaner can save the environment from up to 26 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, with operating costs 75 per cent less than a traditional diesel. The council plans to introduce a diesel-free fleet of council vehicles across the city by 2024, incorporating a range of electric, compressed gas and natural gas vehicles.

The council has also revealed plans for a 100 electric vehicle charging points, with the authority identifying council car parks, supermarkets, leisure centres and streets where the points can be installed.

Steve Munby, cabinet member for city services, said: “All vehicles, no matter how large or small, contribute towards pollution levels in the city and as a local authority which has a large fleet it is right and proper that we show the way forward. As a city we have made great strides in reducing levels of sulphur dioxide over recent years, pollution from vehicle related emissions such as Nitrogen Dioxide and Particulate Matter is still too high.

“It is not good enough for us to be just below the worst, as it still has a direct effect on the health of many residents and creates a huge cost for the NHS, which means it has to be a real priority. There is already a lot of good work going on delivered by partners such as Merseytravel, but we can support that by using our influence to deliver changes which will improve air quality. Although there will be an upfront cost to buying new vehicles, they are far cheaper to run and maintain which will deliver a saving in the long term. By 2025 we want the city to have developed a central heart where walking, cycling, electric vehicles and clean fuels will dominate.”