To help meet climate action goals, the city of Santa Cruz has procured the first all-electric refuse truck in Santa Cruz County, according to city officials. The new Mack LR Electric Vehicle was purchased with grant funding of $400,000 from Monterey Bay Air Resources District and $200,000 from Volkswagen Mitigation Trust.

In December, the city’s Resource Recovery division added the Mack LR Electric Vehicle to its 27-vehicle sanitation fleet. The LR Electric is a zero-emissions truck equipped to serve both residential and commercial routes with the same reliability as diesel-powered trucks given 290 kWh total battery capacity.

Join us to celebrate the 1st EV Refuse Truck in Santa Cruz County! You are invited to our ribbon-cutting with Mayor Fred Keeley, other government officials and industry representatives and regulators on Thursday, March 2, at 12:15 pm. Read all the details: https://t.co/oDAyBnp0knpic.twitter.com/kNunmNEkIw

— City of Santa Cruz (@CityofSantaCruz) February 22, 2023

“The EV refuse truck is an exciting acquisition for the city of Santa Cruz,” said Mayor Fred Keeley. “It collects waste quietly and exemplifies our commitment to sustainable transportation solutions. It will help us reduce emissions, furthering our 2030 Climate Action Plan, and brings tremendous environmental benefits.”

The Mack LR Electric is powered by a Free Wire Boost 200 EV Charger (grant and rebate funded) which utilizes the City Corporation Yard’s existing solar system to provide 100 percent of the truck’s electricity. This will save 3,200 gallons of diesel fuel and $20,000 per year. TEC Equipment (Oakland) will provide maintenance service and support for the Mack LR Electric.