City to Debut New EV Equipment at Public Works & Solid Waste Open House Oct. 25
On Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., City of Ann Arbor public works and solid waste units will host a free, family-friendly event where anyone can explore the tools, vehicles and meet the people who keep Ann Arbor running smoothly. Held at the Wheeler Service Center, 4251 Stone School Road, the event will also show off two of the city’s four new electric (EV) solid waste trucks, which are already operating in the community.
Adults and children alike will be able to participate in hands-on activities and demos to discover:
- How city crews maintain and repair underground water pipes
- The techniques used to care for and trim city trees
- How potholes are filled and roads repaired
- he equipment that collects trash, recycling and compost from homes and businesses
- Tips and insights on Ann Arbor composting and recycling programs
“The city is always striving to find cleaner and more efficient ways to serve the community,” noted Alison Heatley, City of Ann Arbor solid waste manager. “No fumes and no engine noise mean cleaner air and safer operations, which our drivers and the public appreciate. We will continue to push and test the technology to see where it can improve, which will hopefully build the foundation to expand their use.”
In 2021 and 2023, the city ordered two rear-load Peterbilt 520EV refuse trucks and two side-load Mack LR refuse trucks, all of which arrived in 2025. Their purchases were supported by both state and federal grants. With these four trucks, the city will save 15,400 gallons of diesel — an important step in Ann Arbor’s path to carbon neutrality.
Supporting these new electric trucks is A2ZERO, the city’s action plan for a just and equitable transition to carbon neutrality by the year 2030. Strategy 2 of A2ZERO covers the electrification of vehicles and appliances. To learn more about A2ZERO, visit a2zero.org.
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Media Contact:
Robert Kellar, Communications Specialist, 734.794.6000 ext. 41524 | rkellar@a2gov.org