Electric technology is becoming increasingly common all over the globe. Samsara (2020) conducted a survey that indicated 90% of fleet managers believed the full electrification of fleets was inevitable. So why is the idea of electric vehicles so popular and what does it mean for you?

There are three main factors for operators to consider when moving to electric vehicles: reduced noise, ease of use and lower impact on health and environment.

Noise

Noise pollution is important not only for the surrounding environment, but for the driver of a gritter too. Spreading in urban environments often occurs during unsociable hours which on a standard diesel vehicle produces a lot of noise when the majority of the population is sleeping. With electrical vehicles, the noise generated by these machines is significantly quieter minimising noise pollution and leading to reduced complaints.

Due to the efficiency of electric technology (even on maximum settings) an electric powered gritter will be quieter than a diesel. This is a great achievement particularly for the operators of these vehicles as repeated exposure to high levels of noise causes hearing loss or damage. This means that if operating an electrically powered gritter, the operator has reduced exposure to high volume noise and any associated health risks are reduced when compared to the diesel alternative.  

Ease of use

Due to the nature of electric vehicles and how the electric motors work, they contain fewer moving parts compared to diesel run machines, meaning there are less oil changes, fewer checks, and less opportunity for things to break. Another benefit of having less parts is a lighter overall weight so performance and capacity is slightly improved. When overall energy consumption is reduced, power is used more efficiently and efficiency is increased to ensure the units are well matched for the jobs in hand.

Health and Environment

Another fantastic advantage of electric vehicles is the introduction of a regenerative braking system. Unlike a conventional braking system, a regenerative braking system doesn’t rely on friction in order to brake. This means there is 95% less brake dust emission which has an impact on the local environment. These particles get into the surrounding air and lower air quality which can affect the health of the driver and those in the surrounding area. By removing this type of braking system, not only does it reduce the amount of harmful particulate matter you are exposed to but this brake dust doesn’t build up in the internal mechanisms which means less chance of malfunction and breakdown.

A case study from the Netherlands highlighted the overall environmental benefits of running electrical fleets compared to conventional fuels: “Electric vehicles drove more than 700,000 kilometers during the trial. This cut the amount of CO2 the city’s vehicles emitted by 67% and particulate matter emissions by 10%. The trial also meant that the city completely stopped emitting NOx.” (Urban Mobility Solutions)

The findings of this study suggest that driving an electric vehicle is much more beneficial to general health than a diesel engine, with reduced exposure to CO2, NOx and inhalable particulate matter.

There is no argument that electric technology is changing the face of winter maintenance technology. With both fleet managers and operators benefiting from the introduction of electric vehicles, it is only a matter of time before most, if not all fleets, move across to being fully electric. There is no doubt that electric technology really is the future of municipal cleansing operations.

With the new and exciting technologies coming into the market, there are a lot of questions as to whether the new products will perform as well as the current vehicles available on the market. It’s natural to have a lot of concerns with brand new technology but these concerns may not be warranted, and a few misconceptions can come about from a lack of knowledge on the product.

Answers to some of the most asked questions regarding Bucher’s Electra Salt spreader can be found here.

How long does it take to charge? 

The Electra spreader onboard battery is 7.12kWh, meaning charging time from 0 to 100% is around 90 minutes using a high powered charging station. Additionally, customer usage data shows that a quick 15-20 minute charge is sufficient to put enough charge back into the battery for a grit run. Typically, the spreader is put onto charge after every 2 or 3 runs out, not every time. 
 

Batteries don’t like the cold. How does it perform in low temperatures? 

Given the nature of what we are doing with the technology, and the low temperature operating environments, this was a consideration from the very start of the research and design phase. Our battery has a heated insulated jacket around it, which helps it keep a constant temperature when in operation and receiving a charge. The spreader was designed by our Italian division to operate in much colder conditions throughout Europe and the rest of the world.  
 

What charging points do I require? 

Each Electra spreader is supplied with its own charger, and it is possible that 1 charger can be used to charge multiple machines. Therefore, a special electric charge point isn’t needed in the same way you need one for an electric car. Instead, the gritter uses a 3-phase, 400v supply, which are usually already installed and readily available at service depots.  
 

How much range can it deliver? What happens when I run out of charge? 

Rather than measure in miles, its easier to gauge the ‘range’ in the volume of salt that can be delivered on a full charge. We have measured this at between 20-25 tonnes of salt, before the battery is depleted. Our 18 tonne, 6m³ spreaders would typically go out 4-5 times before needing to be recharged.  

The battery management system always keeps enough charge in reserve to make sure that the spreader lights stay on, and the controller still functions. Additionally, the driver always has visibility of the state of charge and is given warnings (just like a fuel tank) when charge levels are getting low.  
 

What about corrosion and electrics? 

 Again, this was an early consideration, and has been kept in mind when building the components. Electrical components that have a potential to get damaged have the highest level of protection against the elements and have been tested repeatedly through our stringent quality control processes to make sure they are safe.