In response to citizen complaints about noise, and in an effort to reduce atmospheric pollution, the city of Montreal is acquiring 18 all-electric sidewalk vacuums by 2020. The vacuums will be supplied by Quebec-based Exprolink-Madvac, a $2-million contract. Eventually, the city plans to replace all 78 of its diesel-powered sidewalk vacuums by electric models.
These new electric models will be far less noisy and less pollution than the currently-used diesel models. The city expects to receive 13 of the 18 machines this year, and a further 5 by the summer of 2020. Three vehicles have been lent to New York City in a partnership deal.
Electric sidewalk vacuums cost about $20,000 more each than their diesel-powered counterparts. However, city hall forecasts it will save money on fuel expenses in the long run.
Another Quebec-based electric vehicle company, Électrique Lion, is developing an all-electric garbage truck with plans to release it commercially by next year. The truck, they say, will be able to stop in front of 1,200 homes over 400 kilometres with a single charge. Each truck would be almost completely silent and save cities 50,000 litres per year in fuel.
h/t Journal Métro