HTUF Hybrid Refuse Truck working Group

January 2013

The purpose of this case study analysis is to illustrate how the initial purchase price, fuel economy improvements, maintenance cost reduction, and possible productivity improvements figure into the overall equation for defining the benefits of investing in a more efficient technology to accomplish the same job as a conventional diesel refuse vehicle. LCA takes these factors into consideration over the life of the refuse vehicle and, using the projected cost of money, fuel inflation rate, and other factors, determines the effective cost savings over the life of the vehicle. The benefits of advanced technology are better assessed when looking at the costs across the vehicle’s lifetime rather than looking at the simple payback period, so that optimal long-term investment decisions can be made.