Biffa upcycles its recycling trucks with electric conversions

Waste management company Biffa is taking steps towards cleaning up its fleet of bin lorries by replacing diesel engines with electric. This ensures older vehicles are upcycled instead of scrapped as Biffa transitions to zero-emissions electric powertrains.

The company has placed an initial order of 10 Upcycled Electric Vehicle (UEV) refuse trucks from Lunaz, a Silverstone-based specialist which is better known for its conversions of high-end classic cars.

Following the successful completion of technical trials, the first trucks will be on refuse collection routes later this year. Biffa’s UEV refuse trucks will operate on both commercial and municipal waste collection routes.

For UK councils, the procurement of these vehicles represents a significant saving for the taxpayer, with more than £1 million in public money saved for every 20 vehicles upcycled and electrified versus buying new EV equivalents.

The upcycling process also creates significant functional and operational advantages. This includes the ability to tailor the size of the powertrain to a specific route profile. This means for shorter, more urban routes, Biffa is not burdened with the extra cost and weight of an overspecified battery-pack.

Critical enhancements to the cabin augment significant safety improvements. This includes the use of 360 cameras with person and cyclist detection and the re-location of the handbrake to ensure drivers never need to take their hands off the wheel.

Every UEV by Lunaz is upcycled at the company's facility in the Silverstone Technology Park, which will support more than 300 highly skilled jobs by 2025.

Lunaz's facility in the Silverstone Technology Park will support 300 jobs