Piloting eRCVs in Hampshire Councils

Serco manages waste and recycling services for councils across the UK. With over 300 councils declaring climate emergencies, refuse and recycling collection represents a significant source of operational emissions. 

Serco required real-world operational data to demonstrate that electric refuse collection vehicles (eRCVs) could perform reliably in daily service, deliver measurable sustainability benefits, and provide a credible business case for wider fleet electrification. 

Key objectives included: 

• Proving operational reliability across live collection rounds
• Measuring emissions reduction versus diesel vehicles
• Establishing total cost of ownership (TCO) viability 
• Identifying infrastructure and readiness requirements for scale 

VEV supported Serco with route modelling, charging infrastructure and operational monitoring to run a live pilot of electric refuse collection vehicles across two Hampshire depots. Using VEV IQ and integrated telematics, the trial monitored vehicle performance, charging schedules, power usage and emissions savings while drivers operated the vehicles on real waste collection routes.

The solution included: 

• Conversion of two diesel RCVs into fully electric refuse collection vehicles
• Deployment across 69 live collection rounds with mixed route profiles
• Installation of 22 kW AC charging infrastructure at each site
• Integration with VEV IQ to monitor energy use, charging behaviour and performance data 
• Driver engagement and EV training for 10 experienced operators

This structured pilot created a data-driven environment to assess performance, emissions impact, charging behaviour, driver adoption and cost implications. 

Performance & Reliability: 

• 100% completion of assigned collection rounds
• Vehicles returned with an average 41% battery remaining
• Positive driver feedback following initial scepticism

Environmental Impact: 

• 8,898 kg of tailpipe CO₂ removed during the 8-week pilot 
• Equivalent to removing approximately two cars from the road for a year
• Reduced manufacturing emissions through vehicle conversion model

Business Case: 

• Total cost of ownership at parity with diesel RCVs
• Potential 4–14% savings through optimisation strategies 

Pilot Overview: 

• Duration: 8 weeks (March 18 – May 10, 2024)
• Depots: 2 (Hampshire)
• Routes: 69 collection rounds
• Drivers: 10 trained operators

Charging & Energy: 

• 22 kW AC charger installed at each site
• Average 16-hour charging window
• Charging datamonitoredand analysed via VEV IQ 

The pilot provided operational insight to inform phased rollout planning, including infrastructure scaling, grid capacity considerations and long-term electrification strategy.