Big Orange goes green: UT Knoxville to deploy nine electric trucks

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) is set to introduce nine electric trucks to its fleet, including a Volterra electric refuse truck designed specifically for collecting recyclable materials on campus. Manufactured by McNeilus, a subsidiary of Oshkosh based in nearby Murfreesboro, the refuse truck utilises aluminium sourced from local company Alcoa. This vehicle is tailored for the stop-and-go nature of waste collection, with electric motors integrated alongside hydraulic systems to manage lifting, compacting, and hauling tasks efficiently. The refuse truck is powered by a substantial 499 kWh battery pack, providing up to 200 miles of range or approximately 110 collection stops, known in the industry as “picks.” It supports both DC fast charging and overnight Level 2 charging, ensuring flexibility and minimising downtime. While UTK has not disclosed the specific roles of the other eight electric trucks, each is equipped with a 240 kWh battery pack, deemed well-suited for their intended campus duties. These vehicles also feature an onboard route-planning system to optimise efficiency and battery usage during daily operations. Some of the new electric trucks come with bidirectional charging capabilities, allowing them to function as mobile power sources during outages, which could enhance campus resilience. The project was funded through a combination of a $3-million grant from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, $315,000 from the Student Environmental Initiatives Fund, and approximately $700,000 from UT Facilities Services. This investment underscores UTK’s commitment to sustainability and innovation in campus operations. The deployment of these electric trucks represents a significant step forward in the university’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and modernise its fleet with clean energy technology. By integrating advanced electric vehicles into essential services like waste management, UTK is setting an example for other institutions aiming to balance operational efficiency with environmental responsibility. The initiative also highlights the growing viability of electric trucks in demanding, real-world applications such as refuse collection.