Council net zero fleet strategy
Challenge
- Adur and Worthing Councils have set a target of net zero by 2030. The vehicle fleet is responsible for the majority of Council GHG emissions
- The fleet covers vehicles used for waste and recycling collection, street cleansing and grounds maintenance services. Refuse Collection Vehicles (RCV) produce 70% of the fleet emissions and are due for replacement before 2030.
Approach
- Ricardo assessed the fleet operations and requirements to evaluate the suitability of electric and hydrogen vehicles for Council operations
- A range of scenarios for achievable fleet transition to zero-emissions were developed
- GHG savings, vehicle and operational costs, and infrastructure requirements were evaluated for each scenario including for battery electric vs hydrogen RCVs
- Potential synergies with a local hydrogen hub were explored
- The potential of HVO biodiesel in existing vehicles was assessed as an interim measure for faster decarbonisation
- By working closely with the Council team, Ricardo tailored a report to meet their needs which sets out a clear and viable path to achieve a zero-emission Council fleet and support the net-zero target
Results
- The report sets out the investment needs and provides the information needed to start planning for infrastructure provision and vehicle replacement, and was presented to Council officers and members to inform their next steps
- The Councils have now announced a transition to an electric fleet, with the first electric RCV entering service in 2025, and at least 16 to be electric by 2030. Vans and food waste vehicles will also adopt electric
- HVO biodiesel has also been adopted in the interim to maximise GHG reductions across the remaining diesel vehicles
- The Ricardo study is providing a foundation for the Councils’ fleet strategy to meet net zero