The City of Hyattsville’s battery-electric, zero-emission refuse truck, will begin service this October. According to a release from BYD, this is the first of its kind in Maryland.

The vehicle is a BYD 6R Class 6 refuse truck, one of several medium-duty fully-electric or hybrid vehicles in the city’s fleet and the first commercially deployed Class 6 refuse truck in the country.

The BYD 6R is capable of working an entire shift without recharging. With its short wheelbase, this truck is more compact allowing for excellent maneuverability on urban streets where space is limited. In addition, the truck has over 200 KWh of battery capacity and is capable of 120kW DC CCS1 charging.

"This addition to our growing electric vehicle fleet is one of the tools Hyattsville is using to move towards a clean energy future,” says Tracey Douglas, city administrator for the City of Hyattsville. “We are proud to lead by example and demonstrate our care and concern for both the environment and the health of our employees.”

In addition to the environmental and employee health benefits provided by a zero-emission vehicle, the City anticipates significant savings in fuel purchases and vehicle maintenance. The City’s Department of Public Works Director Lesley Riddle says she is most excited about the gasoline savings and the reduction in emissions inhaled by DPW staff on the job.

All BYD trucks utilize proprietary safe battery technology that exceeds the requirements for some of the most rigorous safety-testing programs around the world, BYD officials said. For the truck body, Curbtender Inc. has installed eight yard rear loader Quantum body, designed to be lightweight and efficient. As a family-owned manufacturer of refuse collection vehicles, Curbtender is focused on providing durable, high-performance products with low purchase and maintenance costs, company officials said.