Two British companies are combining expertise to give older diesel bin lorries a new lease of life by converting them to electric vehicles. This ensures older vehicles are upcycled instead of scrapped needlessly as an increasing number of businesses look to electrify their fleet to zero emission vehicles.
Leading waste management company Biffa and the UK’s fastest-growing upcycling business Lunaz, are embarking on a “landmark step” to electrify one of the largest fleets of bin lorries.
Over the next 10 years, Lunaz will commit to supporting the transition of Biffa’s existing diesel trucks to clean-air electric powertrains.
The British businesses are working together to create an innovative solution to avoid scrapping older polluting vehicles and electrifying them instead.
An initial order has been placed, with 10 26-tonne Upcycled Electric Vehicle (UEV) refuse trucks, which should save more than 200 tonnes in embedded carbon.
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Following successful tests, the first deliveries should take place later this year, with Lunaz’ Silverstone headquarters having the capacity to upcycle more than 1,100 vehicles every year.
David Lorenz, founder and CEO of Lunaz, said: “By embracing the power of upcycling as a dramatically more sustainable course to the transition to a clean air fleet, Biffa delivers economic value to its stakeholders while delivering a great ecological dividend to the planet.
“By finding new life for diesel-emitting vehicles, we are delighted to stand together with a leading UK company in creating the potential to reduce global emissions at scale.
“This solution represents sustainability without functional and financial penalty and the ultimate win-win for operators and local authorities.”
Speaking previously to Express.co.uk, Mr Lorenz highlighted the internal combustion engine vehicles which will still be on the roads after 2030 and what can be done to avoid scrapping tens of millions of vehicles.
By eliminating the “replace with new” cycle that many businesses tend to operate with, upcycling older diesel vehicles to electric could act as a huge carbon-cutting measure.
England and Manchester United legend David Beckham backed the new partnership and the move towards slashing emissions across the UK.
Beckham, who was an early investor in Lunaz, said: “This deal is a strong endorsement of Lunaz’ innovative approach to finding sustainable solutions and I’m delighted to be an investor in this fast-growing and exciting British company.”
With the new partnership, Biffa has signalled clear progress regarding its 2030 sustainability commitments, in line with the United Nations.
This includes cutting emissions by 50 percent by the end of the decade and building on a 70 percent reduction in emissions since 2002.
It is hoped this will also see the end of the company buying new fossil-fuelled trucks, opting instead to upcycle its current fleet to cut down on waste.
Maxine Mayhew, COO Collection and Specialist Services at Biffa, said: “I am proud that every electric vehicle upcycled by Lunaz for Biffa’s fleet will mean one less tailpipe emission emitting vehicle for our planet.
“This long-term partnership with Lunaz is a major pillar in our collective effort to achieve our 2030 commitments.
“We are proud to work with an innovative UK company to realise the transformational power of upcycling to save thousands of tonnes of embedded carbon in our transition to clean-air refuse truck fleets.”
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