Folsom officials weigh course on EV garbage trucks

Folsom officials are seesawing on moving forward with troubled electric garbage trucks amid industry turmoil. To meet state mandates on zero emissions, Folsom bought two electric refuse collection trucks in 2022 as a pilot E-vehicle project. Despite widespread efforts to dial back EV mandates, the city is still under state "clean fleet" laws that require 50 percent of all medium and heavy-duty rigs to go electric. Folsom ordered two EV collection trucks from Western Truck Parts and Equipment, a home tote side-loader and a bulky waste rear-loader for $1.35 million total. Grants cover 40 percent of the cost, staff said. "Since the Waste and Recycling Division is responsible for about 90 percent of diesel fuel use by city operations, there is significant potential to reduce greenhouse gas," said Marie McKeeth, Folsom general services manager. The state plan requires Folsom to surrender two diesel trucks. After the incentive and grants, the Folsom cost is $810,300, according to the report. The cost of two equivalent diesel trucks at the time was $810,363. The purchase was executed in 2023 with a delivery date no later than September of that year. The overall deal included 14 diesel trucks, all of which have been delivered, staff said. "The electric refuse vehicles took longer than expected, but additional delays occurred due to severe rodent damage to the wiring harnesses," staff said in the report. Following the repairs, the first attempt to deliver one to Folsom came last November. The electric truck was, however, unacceptable due to coolant pump issues, a power steering fluid leak and minor cosmetic flaws, staff said. Several following delivery attempts failed due to more problems discovered on arrival. In one case, the transmission gave out on the way to Folsom, ending with a tow truck trip back to the dealer in West Sacramento. After a second transmission replacement in one of the trucks, city officials threw up their hands and told the dealer the delays were unacceptable and Folsom wanted out of the mess. Following a notice of contract termination, the dealer met again with city staff to offer upgrades. Officials said the electric truck problems are not isolated to Folsom. Western built roughly 200 EV trucks and all have been voluntarily recalled, whether in service or still pending like Folsom. The upgrades include a new inverter motor and mount, transmission, drive shaft, electrical harness, hill start assist and artificial sound for pedestrian safety. "We're getting 2025 trucks for 2023 pricing," said McKeeth, saving $200,000 per rig. Staff then reversed course yet again and recommended going forward with the two EVs. But after considerable discussion on June 24, the City Council voted unanimously to postpone approval until the city gets references from happy customers. "I would say pause, pause, pause on spending, because I don't think we need to be the pilot city to do garbage trucks," said Folsom resident Rob Allen, noting the federal funding freeze. "That's all coming to an end. ... It's going to change everywhere after Gavin (Governor Newsom) is out. Electric vehicle stuff – it's all going to change. It's already happening on the federal level." For example, California has agreed to formally repeal much of the controversial Advanced Clean Fleet mandate to settle multiple legal challenges, according to a June North American Transportation Association report. Key provisions of ACF already were not being enforced because the state didn't get a required waiver from the federal Environmental Protection Agency, authorities said. "The jury is still out on whether this will work. We actually, as a staff, contemplated, 'Hey, should we just stop doing this?' "said Folsom City Manager Bryan Whitemyer. There is also uncertainty whether Folsom can collect federal grants of $100,000 for each truck with the funding freeze. "There is some possibility that if we proceed, that we will lose that funding," said McKeeth. After reviewing pros and cons, the pilot EV trucks are otherwise now supported by staff and the council. McKeeth said the department has requested referrals that Western has yet to provide. "Referrals should be easy," said Allen. While the city previously planned for stronger level 3 chargers, the price was too high and Folsom settled for level 2 chargers at the city corporation yard. The truck batteries in turn need 21 hours of charging for their full 200-mile maximum. However, Folsom refuse trucks currently average about 70-100 miles per day, leaving a reasonable 16 hours of charge time overnight to cover the next day, staff explained. One big reason the EV dump trucks are desirable is the daily fuel savings. Side loaders use an average of 27 gallons of diesel a day, with rear loaders about 20. Staff calculated the two EV rigs would result in roughly $200 per day in savings. "This isn't done necessarily for an environmental reason. It's not done to make a statement. It's to test technology, because there are examples out there in other fields. We can benefit, just for the simple fact we're not paying for the fuel," said Whitemyer.