Mayor Mike Johnston spent part of his Monday morning talking trash with second graders at Denver’s Teller Elementary School as the city debuted its first all-electric garbage truck.

Joined by District 10 Councilmember Chris Hinds, Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Executive Director Amy Ford and Teller Elementary School Principal Sabrina Gates, Johnston answered questions from students about the city’s newest electric vehicle, which goes into service this week as part of a 24-month performance test.

While the zero-emissions Mack LR Electric still resembles — and will likely continue to smell like — a garbage truck, Ford said the truck will be put to the test to see how the unit performs in collecting a variety of materials (trash, compost, and recycling) at different times of year. 

Students got the opportunity to see the the new ride up close and ask questions of the drivers.

The truck is funded by a $470,000 grant from Xcel Energy’s Partnership for Research and Innovation Program, which covers the vehicle’s two-year lease, charging infrastructure, and distinctive vehicle wrap.

The City and County of Denver has approximately 3,300 vehicles in its current fleet, and aims to convert as many as possible to electric, Johnston said. 

Denver doubled the size of its electric vehicle fleet this year – from 41 to 82 vehicles – with more expected to come online next year.  

“But some of the hardest vehicles (to convert to electric) are the largest ones like trash trucks,” Johnston said.

The truck has a range of close to 125 miles per charge, Ford said.

It will be tested in every neighborhood, beginning with Denver City Council District 10, with a particular interest in its winter weather performance.

Last year, Denver’s neighbor to the north, the city of Louisville, announced it would be the first city in the nation to use a 100% electric fleet of trash and recycling collection vehicles after renewing a contract with Republic Services.

“The goal is that you’ll see more and more big trucks like these in your neighborhoods picking up all the trash and not emitting any carbon,” Johnston said.