Monday 20th March 2023
At Recorra, one of the largest contributions to our carbon footprint are our vehicles. We operate a modern fleet of over 50 ‘Euro 6’ emission vehicles and employ a skilled route planner to optimise efficiencies and reduce emissions where possible. We have been running electric light vans and company cars for five years, but as part of our #SustainABLEPathway, are committed to the ongoing electrification of our fleet.
Net ZeroIn 2021, Recorra made a commitment to be net-zero by 2030 and welcomed the first in a series of fully electric heavy vehicles to join our fleet of trucks and small electric vans. This was London’s first fully electric vehicle (EV) to service commercial recycling collections.
We are delighted to be launching 2 more electric RCVs in Central London by the end of March. Recorra will continue to only purchase electric vehicles going forward. Furthermore, complementary to our sustainability ethos, we will continue to recycle our older diesel vehicles by retrofitting them for electric operation – giving them a second lease of life and reducing waste. An electric charging system has been installed at our yard in Purfleet, Essex to enable a smooth transition.
There are four major benefits of electric vehicles:
- EVs don’t release any exhaust pollutants (e.g. nitrogen dioxide, diesel particulates) into the atmosphere. This is a particular issue in London where health guideline thresholds are regularly broken. Say less air pollution for local communities etc
- The electricity required to power the vehicles can come from renewable sources.
- EVs are much quieter than their diesel alternatives, reducing noise pollution.
- With a longer operational life, EVs require less maintenance because the electric mechanism has fewer moving parts. This means increased reliability and longevity of the vehicle.
Carbon emissionsOver a year, a diesel RCV typically runs for 20,000 miles and produces approximately 50 tonnes of CO₂. An electric vehicle with energy sourced from renewable sources produces none. This saving is equivalent to the carbon footprint of 10 UK people in a year. In addition to carbon savings, there is the elimination of other diesel emissions such as nitrogen dioxide and particulates. For the 7.5 tonne box truck the CO2 saving is approximately 19 tonnes per year – approximately the carbon footprint of 4 people per year in the UK. Our trucks contain regenerative braking, a mechanism which uses braking energy in a controlled way to charge batteries, which is likely to reduce particulate emissions by a significant amount.
Noise levels The electric RCVs are significantly quieter than their diesel alternatives. The noise level in operations for an RCV is determined more by the tipping of materials than the vehicle moving (as is largely the case with a diesel model). I’m so proud to be leading such a forward-thinking company, fighting climate change and hope to see others following suit.
