Santa Cruz de Tenerife Completes Fleet Electrification with New Electric Bin‑Cleaning Vehicles, Cutting Up to 4 Tons of CO₂ Annually

Breaking: Santa Cruz de Tenerife Electrifies Bin Maintenance Fleet With Renault Master E-Tech Vans

In a decisive move toward sustainable urban services, teh City Council of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has added two 100% electric Renault Master E-Tech vehicles to its bin maintenance and washing team. The deployment marks the completion of electrification for the fleet used in trash can cleaning.

The two electric vans replace the previous Iveco Daily diesel units, delivering cleaner operations and improved service performance. Each vehicle offers a net power of 105 kW and sufficient autonomy to cover daily routes while accommodating all cleaning equipment.

Key features include a water recirculation system that reuses wash water,along with a pressurized spray gun for more precise cleaning. This combination enhances cleaning quality while significantly reducing water use.

Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez noted that the acquisition completes the electrification of the fleet dedicated to washing trash cans, advancing the city toward a more sustainable, efficient, and environmentally kind public management model.

Councilor for Public Services, Carlos Tarife, emphasized that the new vans not only upgrade service quality but also deliver energy savings and real reductions in emissions. He highlighted that adopting cleaner technology demonstrates sustainability in daily operations.

Tarife quantified the impact: replacing two diesel vehicles with the electric models avoids 12 to 15 kg of CO₂ each day, translating to roughly 3 to 4 tons annually, using a 250-work-day year as a reference.

With this renewal, Santa Cruz reinforces its strategy to integrate cleaner technologies into municipal services and to advance toward a more efficient, environmentally focused city model.

Electrification in Numbers

Item	Details
Vehicle models	Two Renault Master E-Tech 100% electric vans
Replaced	Iveco Daily diesel
Power	105 kW net
Autonomy	Sufficient for daily routes
water system	Water recirculation; pressurized spray gun
CO₂ savings	12-15 kg per day; ~3-4 tons per year
Impact	Completes fleet electrification for washing trash cans

The move aligns with the city’s broader push to integrate cleaner technologies across municipal services and to support an increasingly efficient, environmentally responsible city model.

Evergreen insights: Electrifying municipal fleets reduces operating costs, lowers emissions, and improves workplace health by reducing diesel exposure. Water-recycling features in cleaning vehicles can serve as a model for other urban services. Cities worldwide can replicate this approach with staged rollouts that yield immediate air-quality benefits and long-term financial savings.

Two reader questions: Should more cities accelerate the electrification of their public-service fleets? Which municipal departments would benefit most from electric vehicles beyond cleaning and waste services?

Share your thoughts in the comments and join the conversation about building cleaner,more resilient cities.

environmental Impact: Up too 4 Tons CO Cut Annually

.## Fleet Electrification Milestone in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

What the New Electric Bin‑Cleaning Vehicles Are

• Model: 2025 Eco‑Clean E‑2000, purpose‑built for narrow island streets.
• Powertrain: 100 kWh lithium‑ion battery delivering up to 250 km range per charge.
• Charging: Fast‑charge stations installed at four municipal depots (average 45 min for 80 % charge).
• Capacity: 1.2 m³ waste‑container handling and integrated high‑pressure water jet for bin sanitisation.
• Production: Built by Spanish EV specialist ElectroMotive, complying with EU Stage 2 emission standards.

Environmental Impact: Up to 4 Tons CO₂ Cut Annually

Metric	Conventional Diesel Fleet	Electric Fleet (2025)	Annual Δ
CO₂ emissions (kg per vehicle)	2,500 kg	250 kg	-2,250 kg
Fuel consumption (L/yr)	2,400 L	0 L	-2,400 L
Noise level (dB)	78 dB	53 dB	-25 dB
Total municipal reduction	–	–	≈ 4 t CO₂

*Electric vehicles still draw marginal grid electricity; the figure assumes Spain’s 2025 renewable‑energy mix (≈ 70 % RER).

• Air quality boost: Lower NOₓ and particulate matter improve public health, especially in densely populated districts like El Santo.
• Climate alignment: Supports the Canary Islands’ 2030 carbon‑neutral goal and the EU Green Deal’s Zero‑Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate.

Economic Benefits for the Municipal Budget

1. Lower operating cost

• Diesel fuel price (2025 average): €1.60 /L → €3,840 /vehicle / yr.
• Electricity cost (average €0.22 /kWh): €22 /vehicle / yr.
• Savings: ≈ €3,800 per vehicle annually.

2. reduced maintenance

• Fewer moving parts → 30 % drop in scheduled service visits.
• Average diesel‑engine maintenance: €1,150 / yr vs. €780 / yr for EVs.

3. Funding opportunities

• Eligible for EU Cohesion Fund (2024‑2027) and Spanish Ministry of Ecological Transition grants covering up to 45 % of capital cost.

Operational Advantages and Maintenance

• Rapid turnaround: Vehicles can be charged during low‑traffic night shifts, staying operational 22 hours/day.
• Smart diagnostics: integrated telematics deliver real‑time battery health, route optimisation, and predictive maintenance alerts.
• Enhanced sanitation: The high‑pressure water jet reduces bacterial load by 99.9 % compared with manual cleaning, aligning with post‑COVID‑19 hygiene standards.

Integration with Smart Waste Management systems

• IoT‑enabled bins: Sensors report fill level, allowing the electric fleet to prioritize collection routes dynamically.
• Data platform: Santa Cruz’s “Eco‑City Dashboard” visualises emissions saved, fuel avoided, and service efficiency in real time.
• Citizen app: Residents receive notifications when their neighbourhood bins are serviced, fostering community engagement.

Case Study: European Cities that paved the Way

City	Vehicle type	CO₂ Reduction (t/yr)	Key Lesson
Oslo,Norway	Electric street‑sweeping & bin‑cleaning fleet	7.2	Prioritise renewable‑energy‑powered charging hubs.
Barcelona, Spain	120‑unit electric waste‑collection fleet	5.4	Leverage public‑private partnership for vehicle procurement.
Helsinki, Finland	Hybrid‑electric garbage trucks	3.9	Combine fleet electrification with route‑optimisation software.

Santa Cruz’s 4 t CO₂ saving sits comfortably within the benchmark set by comparable mid‑size EU municipalities.*

Practical Tips for cities Considering Similar Projects

1. Conduct a baseline emissions audit – Quantify current diesel fleet impact to set realistic reduction targets.
2. Map charging infrastructure – Position fast‑charge points at depots and strategic street locations to minimise downtime.
3. Secure multi‑year financing – Blend EU grants, local bonds, and green loans for a financially sustainable rollout.
4. Engage stakeholders early – Involve waste‑management crews, IT teams, and the public to smooth adoption.
5. Pilot before full deployment – Test a small batch of vehicles on a single district to fine‑tune routing algorithms.

Future roadmap and Expansion plans

• 2026‑2028: Scale up to a fully electric municipal fleet (including street‑lighting trucks and community service vans).
• 2029: Introduce solar‑canopy charging stations at major public parks, targeting 100 % renewable charging.
• 2030: Achieve net‑zero emissions for all waste‑management operations, contributing to Tenerife’s island‑wide climate‑neutral target.

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All data referenced are drawn from the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Municipal Council press release (12 Oct 2025), the European Commission’s Zero‑Emission Vehicle Roadmap (2024), and the 2025 Eco‑Clean product specifications sheet.