Westminster celebrates World EV Day with 14 new electric street cleaning bikes
Veolia, in partnership with Westminster City Council, took to the streets to roll out their new, industry-leading fleet of electric street cleansing bikes for World EV Day. The set of 14 new bikes are an addition to the extensive Westminster fleet of over 60 electric street cleansing and collections vehicles.
The new electric bikes have allowed Veolia to cut down on the number of diesel vehicles used within the borough. Using a bike in replacement of a diesel vehicle not only significantly reduces noise pollution, but allows for a 100% reduction in Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions. The electric bikes contribute towards the 89% of carbon savings that the overall electrification of the West End Fleet has created - strengthening Westminster City Council’s commitment to net-zero by 2040.
Councillor Dimoldenberg, Cabinet Member for City Management and Air Quality, unveiled the new fleet under Marble Arch, and held discussions on how Veolia and Westminster City Council can work together to provide a safer and greener borough.
In becoming the benchmark company for ecological transformation, Veolia is committed to tackle climate change, resource depletion, biodiversity collapse, and pollution by expanding the use of existing solutions, and developing new innovative solutions. The bikes are an innovative intervention set to change standard collection and cleansing models, and are currently being used as part of the fly-tip collection process for the delivery of commercial waste bags, and for the monitoring of hot spot areas.
The bikes also ensure that waste can continue to be collected during road closures and within pedestrianised areas. Their use is a step towards a new model of collection in the form of the village approach, with reduced focus on vehicles in and out of depots, and allows for increased coverage, a more efficient service, and less disturbance for residents.
and urgent steps need to be taken if we want to improve. The electrification of the Veolia waste cleansing fleet demonstrates how seriously the new administration is taking air quality.”