Santa Cruz Electrifies Entire Bin Cleaning Fleet

Santa Cruz City Council has introduced two new all-electric Renault Master E-Tech vans for cleaning and maintaining litter bins. This completes the switch to electric vehicles for their entire bin cleaning fleet. The council highlighted that this step helps them achieve more sustainable transport, while also modernizing and making the cleaning service more efficient.

These new vans replace older, diesel-powered Iveco Daily models. This upgrade improves how the service operates and greatly cuts down its environmental impact. The electric vans have 105 kW of power, enough range to cover daily routes, and sufficient space for all the washing equipment.

Each van has a water recycling system, allowing water to be reused during cleaning and significantly cutting down on water consumption. They also feature a high-pressure water system with a spray gun, which makes cleaning more precise, effective, and of higher quality.

Santa Cruz Mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez, said: "This addition completes the electrification of our bin washing fleet, helping us move towards a more sustainable, efficient, and eco-friendly city. Santa Cruz continues to take strong steps towards more modern and responsible public services."

Carlos Tarife, the Councillor for Public Services, added: "These new vehicles not only improve the quality of the service but also save energy and genuinely cut emissions. We are updating the city's fleet with cleaner technology because sustainability is also about what we do every day."

Tarife explained that this technological change directly reduces emissions. By replacing two diesel vehicles with these electric models, the city avoids releasing 12 to 15 kg of CO2 daily. Over 250 working days a year, this adds up to 3 to 4 tons annually.

The City Council emphasized that this upgrade strengthens its plan to use cleaner technology in public services and helps move towards a more efficient city that cares for the environment.