Watercare has launched three new electric tipper trucks now operating at a work site in Mangere for the $1.2 billion Central Interceptor project.
The XCMG-manufactured E700 battery swap trucks can each transport up to 13 tonnes of material with an average range of 200km. The trucks are the first heavy electric tippers in the country.
Provided by New Zealand distributor Etrucks, they are powered by a single battery and charging takes 90 minutes, or the batteries can be swapped in around 10 minutes. The trucks produce 79% less CO2 emissions compared with their diesel counterparts.
The 14.7km Central Interceptor wastewater tunnel will improve the health of central Auckland waterways by significantly reducing wet-weather overflows. Since January this year, the e-trucks have been transporting excavated material from tunnel and shaft sites to Puketutu Island, where Watercare is carrying out a rehabilitation project at a former quarry.
Watercare introduced electric vehicles to its passenger fleet in 2019. Central Interceptor executive programme director Shayne Cunis says the e-trucks make up an exciting addition to the project’s overall sustainability strategy.
“This is a stand-out project in terms of safety, expertise and benefiting the environment.
The E-trucks will not only provide huge carbon savings through zero emissions, but residents living alongside some of our 16 construction sites will benefit hugely from having almost silent truck movements,” Cunis says.
After extensive testing in Auckland, the trucks were sent to Rotorua where truck trailer manufacturer Mills-Tui designed and installed the tipper bodies. The trucks have a tare of 13,400kg.
The Central Interceptor project is being delivered by tunnelling firm Ghella Abergeldie JV (GAJV) which received $500,000 in co-funding from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) under the Government’s new-look Low Emission Transport Fund (LETF).
GAJV social responsibility manager Sandra Edward helped to drive the project from its inception and says getting the trucks here has been a long process.
“The global pandemic certainly got in the way, but we’re thrilled they’re finally here and on the road.
“We’re very excited by some of the specific design features such as reversing cameras and bin cameras, as well as an automatic tarp cover that slides over the top of the material for the journey to the tip site.”
Over the next four years, the trucks are projected to transport 66,000 tonnes of spoil and reduce at least 306 tonnes of CO2-e (the equivalent of driving from Cape Reinga to Bluff more than 800 times). For every 100,000km travelled, around 50,000 litres of diesel will be saved.
The truck branding was designed in consultation with the Mana Whenua Kaitiaki Forum and includes graphics of ancient shells and a stingray, after a tooth and other three- to four-million-year-old artefacts were discovered during early site excavation. Each truck has a QR code, which leads to Watercare’s website with more information about the Central Interceptor project and the e-trucks themselves.
The trucks also made an appearance at last year’s National Fieldays. The Central Interceptor team aims to share the learnings of the e-tipper truck experience throughout the construction industry.