The Seattle Department of Transportation has deployed a fully electric compact bike lane sweeper as part of a pilot program to test the viability of such a machine in the city.
SDOT first tested the eSwingo200+ sweeper from Schmidt in June, and is now renting one of the units for six months to help inform any future purchase decision. It’s the first such vehicle that SDOT is renting and testing to replace carbon emitting city vehicles used to clean protected bike lanes.
The eSwingo can operate for 10 hours on a single charge and requires eight hours to fully recharge, according to Schmidt. But those ratings were developed on flat surfaces and roads, so SDOT seeks to determine how the sweeper performs on more complex topography in Seattle.
SDOT plans to conduct four to six pilot projects in 2023 and 2024 to test operating new electric vehicles and equipment.
Electrifying SDOT’s fleet is in line with Mayor Bruce Harrell’s 2022 Transportation and Climate Justice Executive Order, including the goal to achieve a 100% zero-emission, fossil fuel-free City fleet by 2030.
