PreZero expands electric fleet with 30 collection vehicles

PreZero is expanding its fleet this year with no fewer than thirty new electric vehicles and is providing nine locations with six new charging points each. The new electric vehicles will collect commercial waste in and around Amsterdam, Utrecht, Dordrecht, Berkel en Rodenrijs, Duiven, Helmond, Alphen aan den Rijn, Hengelo and Apeldoorn and will replace collection vehicles that still ran on diesel. This new milestone follows an expansion in 2023, when PreZero already added ten electric trucks to its fleet in Duiven. By expanding the electric fleet, PreZero is taking the next step in further reducing the CO2 emissions of its vehicles.

At various PreZero locations, the charging facility is located above the electric vehicles. Compared to conventional charging stations, this has the major advantage that only half the space is needed to install the charging infrastructure. Previously, there was a charging station between every two vehicles, now six trucks can be parked next to each other. During the summer, PreZero installed new charging plazas at its locations in Berkel en Rodenrijs and Amsterdam. 

In the coming months, the charging plazas will follow at the other locations. The thirty new electric collection vehicles will replace thirty trucks that still ran on diesel and will collect waste from business customers in the various municipalities. The dilemma of grid congestion is playing a role throughout the Netherlands when it comes to installing charging stations. “Standing still in sustainability is not an option. Together, we have ambitious goals to achieve, in the interest of the planet. Despite the current problems surrounding grid congestion, we therefore do not consider it an option to postpone the electrification of our fleet,” says Iwan te Winkel, COO of PreZero Nederland. 

Sustainable urban logistics is an important pillar within PreZero's ambitions. "As a driver of the circular economy, we strive to turn waste into new raw materials. Because we believe in Zero Waste. In doing so, we also increasingly limit our CO2 emissions and the number of transport movements to a minimum when collecting waste. The purchase of these zero-emission vehicles fits in well with this," says Iwan te Winkel. "I am proud of the steps PreZero is taking. Municipalities are working towards emission-free inner cities in 2025. These objectives are clearly on our radar. We are therefore doing everything we can to make our fleet more sustainable and are looking for smart logistics solutions, because the cleanest kilometre is the kilometre you don't drive."

One of the smart logistics solutions that Iwan te Winkel refers to is Green Collective, an initiative that helps municipalities create cleaner and safer city centers. “We do this by combining our routes with those of other collection companies, and collecting commercial waste with a vehicle equipped with a Green Collective logo,” says Iwan te Winkel. Another example is return logistics. In this, vans that drive into the city in full force take back waste from companies in the city center. They deliver this to a hub on the edge of the city, where PreZero picks it up further. In addition, the company participates in an international project where it gains experience in collecting waste with vehicles that run on hydrogen. “Great, sustainable initiatives where we aim for fewer transport movements and less emissions,” concludes Iwan te Winkel.