Yash Roy, Senior Photographer

New Haven is taking a big step in the fight against climate change with its recent announcement of the first electric trash and recycling truck in Connecticut.

The new electric truck, which is the second of its kind in New England, retails at $616,000 but costs the city $336,000 after federal and state grants. It will reduce emissions, save money and improve city air quality, according to New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker. Diesel-powered garbage trucks typically cost $400,000.

“We did a little math based on the current cost of diesel fuel … We project a net savings of approximately $15,000 per year in gas,” Elicker explained at a press conference this past July. “New Haven is green and getting even greener.” 

New Haven will also save on maintenance costs with the electric truck’s purchase. The truck will only cost about $3,500 in maintenance per year — in comparison to the $15,000 spent on diesel truck maintenance per year. This will cover the cost of the vehicle over its 15-year lifespan, according to Elicker.

The new initiative also addresses growing public health concerns in New Haven, recently named an “Asthma Capital” by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. By replacing diesel trucks with electric, the city hopes to address health concerns about smog-forming pollution — dirty air that affects those with asthma and other respiratory conditions.

“Even though [heavy duty vehicles] are only five percent of the vehicles on the road in Connecticut, they contribute more than half the smog-forming air pollution,” said Steven Winter, executive director of the New Haven Office of Climate and Sustainability. “[This] air pollution affects people that are suffering from asthma, [and] the air pollution causes heart disease.”

Connecticut has struggled to meet air quality standards set by the federal government for more than 40 years, according to Tracy Babbidge, air bureau chief for Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. But investments in cleaner technologies, like New Haven’s new electric trash truck, are beginning to turn the tide.

Babbidge pointed to the state’s public health successes stemming from improving local air quality on a neighborhood scale. 

“Last year, there were 19 days during the summer where we had to tell children and residents across the state that the air is unhealthy to breathe,” Babbidge said. “This year, we’re on track to have 15 days where we’ve exceeded that health-based standard.”

The electric trash truck is part of a broader city initiative to electrify the municipal fleet by 2030, a goal set by New Haven’s Board of Alders in 2021. The city has already applied for a state grant under the 2023 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act to help purchase a second truck. The funding would cover up to 45 percent of the cost, with a decision expected this spring.

Public Works Director Michael Siciliano expressed enthusiasm for the department’s new addition. 

“For myself, and for the department, we’re very excited to have this electric vehicle,” Siciliano said. “The staff is excited to see it at work, to put it to use. They’re happy they don’t have to check the oil every morning. Hopefully, it’s a sign of things to come.”

New Haven’s work to electrify its trash and recycling truck fleet comes in tandem with other city measures to combat climate change and promote sustainability. Such measures include city-wide efforts to transition from fossil fuel-powered buildings and vehicles to electric-powered alternatives, enhance green infrastructure and expand the electric vehicle charging network.