Labour council admits to using diesel generators to charge electric lorries

A Labour council has admitted its fleet of electric bin lorries is currently feeding off diesel-chugging generators.

Cardiff Council was forced to reveal yesterday that dedicated charging stations for the vehicles were rendered unusable after suffering a software malfunction.

Representatives admitted to turning to diesel generators after a local resident spotted them drawing from their power.

They said the dozen-strong fleet is using them temporarily while they await charging station repairs.

The news comes as the council attempts to keep to its pledges to go net zero by 2030, with the lorries having been touted as a part of this drive.

The council initiated the transition to electric lorries in 2021 and has added 12 to its roster so far.

Each truck, designed by manufacturers Dennis Eagle, contains five packs of lithium-ion batteries.

These are the vehicles currently using diesel generators, and they typically take between six to seven hours to fully charge.

A council spokesman told the Daily Telegraph that while the dedicated charging infrastructure is successfully serving smaller vehicles, a software issue has caused the Dennis Eagle systems to “trip”.

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They explained: “The council has infrastructure at Lamby Way Depot to charge electric vehicles.

“This equipment charges the smaller vehicles without any issue, but a software problem between these electric chargers and the new electric Denis Eagle RCV vehicles causes the system to ‘trip’.”

The spokesman added that the portable diesel generators are only being used on a “temporary basis” until Dennis Eagle can install portable electrical chargers.

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They said: “To mitigate this, the council does have portable diesel generators onsite which are being used on a temporary basis when issues occur.

“This is being used while we wait for portable electrical chargers, which are engineered by the vehicle manufacturer – Denis Eagle – to be installed.”

Cardiff Council has outlined a selection of climate change commitments, with the Lamby Way Solar Farm among several sustainable schemes on the horizon to help the city reach its net zero goals over the next few years.

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