Ards and North Down Council is considering an 18-month trial of an electric bin lorry after admitting it is unlikely to hit its target of cutting fleet carbon emissions by 48% by 2030.
The council produced roughly 2,224 tonnes of CO2 in 2025/26, far above its 940-tonne target.
A report for the council said hydrogen is being explored for heavier vehicles like bin lorries, but officers cited barriers including a lack of local refuelling infrastructure, high costs and an underdeveloped HGV market.
Rather than wait, officers recommend trialling one electric lorry, costing around £500,000, roughly double a diesel equivalent, funded by delaying other vehicle replacements.
The lorry would run across all routes to test performance on hills, longer distances and varying loads, with at least one route likely suited to permanent electric use afterwards.
The decision approves further investigation, not an immediate purchase.
Photo: © Scharfsinn / Shutterstock.com
Leave a Reply