All-electric waste collection - KSJ tests e-vehicles for waste disposal

From August 20 to 27, 2025, Kommunalservice Jena (KSJ) tested the all-electric Mercedes-Benz eEconic in regular waste disposal operations. The vehicle was used to collect lightweight packaging waste (yellow garbage can) and paper, cardboard and cardboard packaging (blue garbage can). Several teams of refuse collectors took the opportunity to test the vehicle in the city under real conditions. The waste collection vehicle was charged using a stationary rapid charger (direct current) supplied with the vehicle.

Goal: Electrification of the KSJ vehicle fleet

With this test deployment, KSJ is sending out a further signal of its efforts to gradually electrify its fleet of around 340 vehicles. Around 20 electric vehicles - including five electric vans - are already in use in areas such as tree care, playground maintenance, green space maintenance and city cleaning. The conversion of further large vehicles is planned from 2026/2027.

With the vehicle test, the KSJ is underlining that it is consistently working towards sustainable, emission-free urban cleanliness - while always keeping an eye on the practicality of new technologies. The further electrification of the vehicle fleet is also a measure in the city of Jena's climate action plan.

Investment in further expansion of the charging infrastructure

At the same time, KSJ is building the necessary charging infrastructure: A transformer station is currently being built at Löbstedter Straße 68, which is expected to go into operation in the first quarter of 2026. This will be followed by the expansion of the power grid and intelligent charging systems with load management. This will be complemented by photovoltaic systems on suitable KSJ roofs, which will supply additional electricity for the operation of e-vehicles in the future.

Practical test passed

The first impression of the vehicle was consistently positive. The fast acceleration and direct response were particularly impressive in daily use. The tours were completed efficiently. The technical equipment was also praised: in addition to modern assistance systems, details such as grip heating and better illumination of the work areas provided additional working comfort.

After the tours, the vehicle still had 40 and sometimes 50 percent remaining battery capacity, which was reliably charged to 100 percent overnight. This showed that the vehicle offers a stable range in urban use. For a more comprehensive evaluation, the refuse collectors recommend a further test in the residual waste sector, particularly in winter conditions. The refuse collectors also reported a more pleasant working environment overall: operation without exhaust fumes, engine heat and noise contributed to a noticeably better working atmosphere. However, there were also challenges - the vehicle body sometimes proved to be too long for narrow streets in Jena, and the separate operation of the chassis was not perceived as optimal. Overall, however, the vehicle left a thoroughly positive impression.