Adding Electrification to your Sweeper Fleet
Looking to improve your ESG and make your fleet more eco-friendly? We are helping councils and businesses go green with our range of sustainable vehicles that produce the same level of output but with zero emissions. Battery powered road sweepers were what our customer wanted in their strive to move to be carbon neutral and improve the communities health and well being with cleaner air.
Battery Powered Road Sweepers – The challenge of being eco-friendly
In an ideal world, the combustion engine would be obsolete, all vehicles on the road would produce zero emissions and we’d all benefit from cleaner air and healthier lungs. The reality is that the appetite for electrification cannot keep up with the current infrastructure and when it comes to purchasing, electric versions of vehicles are initially more expensive as an outlay compared to traditional diesel engine versions of the vehicles being made.
There is however a simple solution when it comes to acquiring electric vehicles. You can explore long term contract hire with the right partner who can also provide support with those vehicles should anything arise that requires attention. We can even support the charging element to ensure your vehicles are ready to work their shift with charging options here. One of our councils we provide our service to in the North West wanted exactly this which was to introduce some new battery powered road sweepers into their existing range to push towards the longer goal of a total fleet of electric vehicles. The chosen new starters were a couple of Lynx Charge compact sweepers. We also provide truck mounted versions of the Bucher (Johnston) V65e with electric power too.
Pros & Cons of Electric Road Sweepers
Pros:
- Environmental Benefit
- Zero exhaust emissions dramatically reduce local air pollution (NOₓ, PM, CO₂), which is critical in dense urban areas.
- Lower greenhouse-gas impact per shift if electricity is from clean sources.
- Noise Reduction
- Electric sweepers operate significantly more quietly, improving conditions for operators and minimising disturbance to residents, especially in noise-sensitive zones (early morning, residential, hospital areas).
- Operational Efficiency & Cost Savings
- Electric drive has fewer moving parts which means that from a service perspective less downtime.
- Regenerative braking (in some models) can recover energy, improving efficiency.
- Electricity costs are more stable and cheaper than diesel.
- Shift Autonomy
- Models like Lynx Charge and V65e can operate for a full working shift on a single charge (8 hours), reducing downtime.
- Charging times (4–5 hours for V65e, 4 hours for Lynx) are manageable, especially if optimised with scheduling. This is dependant on the output of your charging station.
- Health & Public Relations
- Cleaner machines mean better public health outcomes (less particulate matter in breathing zones).
- Electric sweepers help cities meet sustainability targets, improving public image and contributing to corporate/municipal ESG goals.
- Infrastructure Alignment
- As more cities invest in EV infrastructure, electric sweepers can plug into broader municipal charging strategies.
- Reduces dependence on fossil fuels, aligning with net-zero and zero-emission city plans.
“When it comes to the Rasco Lynx Charge we have actually found the sweeping power suction to be greater and easier at picking up than the diesel counterparts and we also noticed that brushes are lasting longer too. So from a productivity and material saving perspective we are saving time and money!”
Cons / Challenges (and How They’re Being Addressed):
- Charging Infrastructure Required
- Electric sweepers need reliable charging points. But municipalities can plan overnight depot charging or opportunity charging.
- Capital Cost / Up-Front Investment
- Electric versions may have higher up-front cost vs diesel — though this is offset by lower running cost and maintenance over time.
- Potential need for battery replacement in long-term fleet planning (must be factored in).
- Battery Life / Degradation
- With high-quality battery packs (e.g., LiFePO₄ in V65e), longevity is better; Bucher states ~2,000 full cycles for its battery.
- Proper battery management systems (BMS) minimise degradation, and regenerative braking helps.
- Charging Duration
- Even with 44 kW charging (V65e), going from 0 to 100% could take hours, which may require downtime if not managed.
- But since the working cycle is ~8 hours, this charging window can often fit into shift patterns.
The advantages of contract hire become more apparent when looking at electric vehicles as Dawsongroup emc take care of the service side and the outlay of purchase. This can help with the objections that can be raised when considering the move to electric.
“We have the 7kw chargers in place to ensure our sweepers have the time to recharge before each shift. You do have to consider how far out the vehicles go though so we use the electric sweepers on the areas nearest to the depot so they can get back and not run out of charge within the shift.”
As infrastructure improves along with charging technology, the number of electric commercial vehicles on the road will increase, especially as more toll charging clean air zones pop up around urban areas.
“The advice I get from Dawsongroup EMC has been great, where it’s been possible to change the vehicle configuration, the team can talk us through exactly what needs to be done saving time for them to come out and minimise the downtime of the vehicles. When they do come out it’s always promptly.”
If you are thinking about electric and want some advice on making the change, get in touch with us. We offer a number of green alternatives across our vehicle offering from sweepers to tankers.
