BAT invests in all-electric (BEV) Scania vehicles for household waste collection in the municipality of Tilburg.

Municipality of Tilburg, BAT (Brabants Afval Team) department, which collects waste in and around the municipality in a sustainable manner and oversees optimal recycling, has taken delivery of the first three electric vehicles - all Scania trucks. In the coming years, all garbage trucks will gradually be replaced by clean, electric trucks.

Looking to the future

With the commissioning of these three Scania BEVs in Tilburg, the BAT is taking a big step in making its vehicle fleet more sustainable, in anticipation of the introduction of the zero emission zone in and around the city center, which will take effect on January 1, 2025. This is being done as part of the Green Collective, together with other partners such as Renewi and Pre-Zero. This is an initiative of waste collectors to collect waste together, with joint trucks and via combined collection routes. The municipality is also already anticipating the government's commitment not to purchase environmentally polluting vehicles from 2030. Bob Brocks, buyer and fleet manager at the BAT, explains: "Our ambition is to have 20 electric trucks running at the start of the environmental zone in 2025. We have made a policy decision that as a municipality we should be at the forefront of driving electric vehicles through the city. We want to set a good example. We also know we are supported by politicians; the Tilburg coalition is right behind this."

Quieter and cleaner

The municipality of Tilburg wants to continue to be a nice city to live in and is resolutely committed to more greenery, cleaner air and less nuisance from noise, exhaust fumes and waste in the city center. Quieter and zero emission Scania vehicles are crucial to achieving these ambitious goals. This commissioning, which was festively marked, is therefore the starting signal for the planned and phased replacement of the entire fleet of a total of 60 collection vehicles with electrically powered ones. Initially, these will operate only in and around the city center for the collection of commercial and household waste, later also in the surrounding neighborhoods.

Scania BEV collection vehicles

To achieve 100% emission-free transport, the BAT made the conscious choice of Scania and ended up with three Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) in two different specifications. Two 25L B6x2*4NB rear loaders, equipped with the CL20N low-entry cab with Geesink Norba body for door-to-door collection and commercial waste collection. A third Scania, the 25P B4x2NA box truck with a closed body and CP17N day cab, is used for the collection of textiles and bulky household waste. Both new rear loaders are equipped with five battery packs with an installed capacity of 165kWh and an electric motor with an output of 230kW, respectively. The bucket truck, which has a capacity of 300kWh, in turn has nine battery packs. The range and axle configuration were important factors for the BAT in the tender. The choice of battery packs was made according to the vehicle length, which cannot be too large for the inner city. "We will be driving in the environmental zone. With an interim top-up, it can continue to drive its regular route in the city" said Brocks.