The council calculates that the three vehicles will together generate a saving of 45 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year compared to diesel-powered trucks.
The vehicles are equipped with 22m3 Variopress compactor bodies and Rotary 3 bin lifters built onto Mercedes-Benz eEconic 300 chassis, with 27-tonne gross weights and 6x2 drivelines.
Chief Environmental Services Officer John Woolmer said: ‘Leeds has chosen to be one of the pioneers driving forward the use of electric domestic refuse collection vehicles.
‘Our three new fully electric RCV’s will be targeted to areas of the city that have the greatest air quality issues and where operating a cleaner, greener and quieter service will have the most impact.’
Cllr Mohammed Rafique, Executive Member for Communities, Housing and Environment, added: ‘We are very excited to see the first all-electric bin wagons working in the streets and neighbourhoods of Leeds.
‘In the same year we introduced glass recycling through our green bins, these brand-new vehicles are part of our journey to provide the cleanest, greenest and most efficient service we can for our residents.’
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