Long Beach has deployed its first two zero-emission electric trash trucks onto the streets, with city leaders saying it marks a significant step toward cleaner and more sustainable solid waste collections.
The new trucks are part of the city’s Zero-Emissions Collections Pilot Program, which is designed to evaluate the feasibility of transitioning to a fully zero-emission fleet in the years ahead. The larger truck is operating on standard routes, and the smaller truck is running primarily in alleys, according to a press release.
“This pilot reflects the city’s commitment to climate action and innovation,” Mayor Rex Richardson said in a statement. “We’re excited to be a leader in this effort and explore how electric collections trucks can help reduce emissions, improve air quality and modernize city services.”
The pilot program is currently limited to these two vehicles so the city can evaluate their performance before considering expansion in the future, according to the press release. This approach ensures that regular daily collection operations can continue without disruption while the new technology is tested to withstand the high demands of daily collection. This will continue until enough data has been collected to support a full evaluation.
To fully understand how electric trash trucks perform compared to the city’s current compressed natural gas fleet, the pilot will evaluate several key metrics, officials said. These include the total tonnage each truck can carry before needing to unload, how long each vehicle can operate on a single charge, and whether the trucks can complete their assigned routes without interruption.
Staff will also monitor for any unforeseen technical issues related to the new technology. These data points will help determine whether zero-emission trucks can meet the same operational demands as the existing CNG fleet before the city considers broader fleet replacement, the press release said.
Long Beach announced the deployment of its first two zero-emission trash trucks as part of a pilot program. A press conference was held on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. (Photo courtesy of the City of Long Beach)
Long Beach announced the deployment of its first two zero-emission trash trucks as part of a pilot program. A press conference was held on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. (Photo courtesy of the City of Long Beach)
Long Beach announced the deployment of its first two zero-emission trash trucks as part of a pilot program. A press conference was held on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. (Photo courtesy of the City of Long Beach)
Long Beach announced the deployment of its first two zero-emission trash trucks as part of a pilot program. (Photo courtesy of the City of Long Beach)
Long Beach announced the deployment of its first two zero-emission trash trucks as part of a pilot program. (Photo courtesy of the City of Long Beach)
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Long Beach announced the deployment of its first two zero-emission trash trucks as part of a pilot program. A press conference was held on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. (Photo courtesy of the City of Long Beach)
Long Beach currently operates a fleet of 89 refuse vehicles, 82 of which are CNG vehicles and seven of which use liquefied natural gas, according to the city. The city also has 42 CNG trucks on order in various stages of assembly and delivery, which were ordered several years ago – before the existence of zero-emission vehicles – because of the minimum two-year lead time from manufacturers.
Transitioning the city’s entire refuse fleet to zero-emission vehicles presents significant logistical and financial considerations, officials said.
On average, electric vehicle trash trucks cost about $854,000 per vehicle, an 83% increase over the average cost of CNG trucks, which are $464,476 each. The electric charging infrastructure for a full fleet of more than 89 refuse trucks is a complex undertaking as well, officials said.
The pilot program – a joint venture between the city’s Fleet Services Bureau and Energy and Environmental Services Department – is designed to answer practical questions about the day-to-day viability of electric trash trucks. It reflects the city’s commitment to data-driven implementation amid evolving regulatory requirements under the Advanced Clean Fleets mandate, the press release said.
“This pilot program represents an exciting opportunity to explore how electric collections trucks could support our city’s sustainability goals and operational needs,” Bob Dowell, director of Energy and Environment Services, said in a statement. “While we’re encouraged by the benefits, like reduced emissions, the data we gather during this trial period will help us determine the next steps based on operational and logistical needs.”
The city’s fleet impacts and accelerated transition to zero-emissions EV refuse trucks was outlined in a June 2025 memo. This pilot was in direct response to City Council direction to explore and pursue strategies to accelerate the transition to zero-emission vehicles for private and city-owned refuse trucks to identify public funding opportunities, evaluate fiscal impacts, plan for proactive fleet turnover based on technology availability, support local jobs and prepare for long-term charging infrastructure needs.
The recommendation also noted that carrying out the strategies will require coordination across multiple departments and additional analysis for future council consideration.
The item was brought forward by Second District Councilmember Cindy Allen and co-sponsored by Vice Mayor and Seventh District Councilmember Roberto Uranga.
“I was proud to lead City Council on this effort to encourage the kind of forward-thinking investment our city needs to plan for a more sustainable future,” Allen said in a statement. “By testing zero-emissions collections trucks in real-world conditions, we’re taking a practical, data-driven approach to reducing emissions while still prioritizing providing first-rate services for our residents.”
City officials held a press conference last month to announce the start of the pilot program to the Long Beach community.
“Exploring zero-emissions technology for our collections fleet is an important step toward improving air quality and modernizing essential city services,” Vice Mayor and Seventh District Councilmember Roberto Uranga said in a statement. “This pilot will help us better understand how to scale these efforts in a way that is both operationally effective and fiscally responsible.”