Dubai Municipality has unveiled its first fully electric waste collection and transport truck. With the capacity to carry up to 11 tonnes of compacted waste and travel up to 150 kilometres on a single charge, the vehicle will join the municipality’s fleet as part of efforts to reduce emissions and expand sustainable urban services.

According to Khaleej Times, the truck is designed for daily waste collection across Dubai and is equipped with three lithium-ion batteries weighing a combined 2.2 tonnes.

The vehicle can travel between 100 and 150 kilometres on a single charge. Using a 160-kilowatt fast charger, its battery level can be increased from 20% to 80% in one hour and 45 minutes.

Capacity to Carry 11 Tonnes of Waste and a 19-Cubic-Metre Container

Dubai Municipality’s new fully electric truck has a 19-cubic-metre container and can carry up to 11 tonnes of compacted waste.

The vehicle is compatible with waste bins of various sizes, including 1.1-cubic-metre bins and 360-, 240- and 120-litre bins.

Dubai Municipality said the truck is being deployed as part of the Dubai Integrated Waste Management Strategy 2041, which aims to reduce waste generation by 18% and divert all waste from landfill by 2041.

The initiative also seeks to improve the efficiency of urban cleaning services, reduce emissions and expand the use of clean technologies.

Truck Equipped with Smart Cameras and Waste-Weighing System

The new truck is equipped with an advanced electric waste compaction system that supports various collection methods, including emptying public neighbourhood bins and door-to-door waste collection.

The vehicle also features an on-site weighing system that measures the weight of waste as bins are emptied.

Smart cameras installed on the truck continuously monitor waste collection, vehicle movement and the surrounding area, helping to improve operational safety.

By improving driver visibility and making the vehicle easier to manoeuvre, the cameras reduce potential risks to municipal workers and other road users.

Testing Electric Heavy Vehicles in Dubai’s Climate

Saeed Safar, Director of the Waste Operations Department at Dubai Municipality, said using electric vehicles for waste collection and transport represented a practical step towards adopting clean and innovative technologies in everyday urban services.

He added that the initiative would help strengthen Dubai’s position as one of the world’s leading cities for sustainability, innovation and quality of life.

Safar said the truck’s deployment forms part of the municipality’s programme to assess the real-world performance of electric heavy vehicles in Dubai’s climate and determine how well they meet the city’s operational requirements.

The findings could provide a scientific basis for decisions on potentially expanding the use of electric heavy vehicles to other municipal operations in the future.

Electric Truck to Operate 16 Hours a Day

Dubai Municipality has also trained a specialist team of smart vehicle technicians and urban cleaning engineers to operate and maintain the truck.

Under the announced schedule, the truck, equipped with an electric waste compaction system, will operate across two shifts for a total of 16 hours a day.