Waste manager Emterra will soon operate nine Mack LR Electric refuse trucks in Ontario and B.C., building on its original 2023 electric pilot

Emterra Environmental, a Canadian waste management company, is adding eight new Mack LR Electric refuse trucks to its British Columbia fleet next month.

The vehicles are going into service in the Courtenay and Comox communities on Vancouver Island starting in August. It will be Emterra’s first fully electric local fleet.

“Our commitment to environmental sustainability and climate action is not a choice. It’s a necessity,” says Emmie Leung, founder and CEO of Emterra Group, in a press statement. “We are thrilled to lead the charge in deploying electrified transportation technology in British Columbia.”

Emterra’s headquarters are in Oakville, Ont., but it operates in B.C., Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Michigan.

Emterra’s B.C. electric fleet expansion follows the successful deployment of one Mack LR Electric refuse vehicle in Ontario last October.

With the B.C. additions, the company will have a total of nine electric refuse trucks in operation by the end of the year.

Mack LR Electric refuse vehicle specs

Emterra’s LR Electric refuse vehicles will service roughly 25,000 homes and businesses in the Comox Valley.

Each LR Electric truck features a standard 376 kWh total battery capacity. The twin electric motors deliver a combined 448 horsepower and 4,051 lb-ft of instant torque. Four lithium-ion batteries power all onboard systems, while a regenerative braking system recaptures energy from the vehicles’ frequent stops.

Mack’s LR electric trucks are purpose-built for waste collection. They produce zero emissions and, says Mack, have lower noise levels while operating.

The trucks have a range of 113 kilometres and can fully charge in 90 minutes using a 150-kW charger.

The vehicles also have automated side loaders from Quebec-based Labrie Environmental Group. Local dealer Nanaimo Mack will service the trucks.

To support the new electric trucks, Emterra (in partnership with BC Hydro) installed a charging station with six EV chargers at its recovery facility in the village of Cumberland.

The charging station uses a power management system to optimize the charging experience by reducing peak loads and preventing overloads of the facility’s electric capacity. The trucks will be able to complete their daily duty cycles on one charge and recharge overnight, says Emterra.

Commitments to zero-emission goals

Transitioning its vehicles to electric aligns with Emterra’s long-standing commitment to adopting low-carbon technologies.

“The launch of our fully electric fleet in Comox Valley builds on our circular economy legacy,” says Leung. It’s estimated the fleet of eight electric trucks will eliminate 480 tonnes of C02 emissions each year, while also reducing noise pollution and generating refuelling and maintenance savings for Emterra over the trucks’ lifetimes.

Emterra’s decision to purchase and deploy the Mack LR Electric fleet also supports the province’s CleanBC Program objectives. The program aims to lower CO2 emissions by 40 per cent by 2030. Since transportation contributes approximately 40 per cent of B.C.’s annual greenhouse gas emissions, Emterra’s adoption of an electric fleet will help the Comox Valley reach net-zero goals.

“This initiative aligns with our CleanBC goals, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and demonstrating the tangible benefits of adopting clean technology with thousands of households and businesses throughout the Comox Valley enjoying quieter, more efficient waste collection services,” said Josie Osborne, B.C’s minister of energy, mines and low carbon innovation.