From Grass to Greatness: Christchurch City Council’s Electric Fleet Revolution
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Until governments mandate net zero emissions, sustainability goals will continue to be just targets rather than a regulatory obligation.
Local councils transitioning to an electric fleet to help them achieve their net zero targets require an often-elusive alignment between fleet, maintenance, and infrastructure teams. To achieve this alignment, it usually requires a champion within the organisation to drive change.
Christchurch City Council is an example of where this alignment is happening with great success. From trial to large-scale adoption of electric vehicles across much of their fleet, their transition shows how sustainable practices and operational efficiency can coexist. They’re proving you can have your cake and eat it, too!
Transitioning to an electric fleet
The idea for Christchurch City Council’s transition to an electric fleet was sparked when their parks maintenance contract was up for renewal. The parks maintenance team proposed bringing maintenance in-house and investing in fit-for-purpose vehicles and machinery, which would give them greater control over their fleet and operations. The Council accepted this suggestion, and they designated as much of their fleet as possible to be electric.
Previous trials of electric mowers to ‘test and learn’ gave the Council the insights and confidence needed to transition.
The Council purchased twenty-nine 60-inch and 74-inch electric mowers for regular parks maintenance, supplementing them with larger diesel models for activities with large-scale mowing requirements where electric alternatives were not yet available. However, with the arrival of the EcoMow R96 – a 96-inch electric commercial mower designed for large-scale applications – the Council now has the option to invest in mowers like this once their diesel models reach their end of life.
As well as the electric mowers, the Council has also begun converting its passenger vehicles to electric and they plan to phase out their diesel utes over the next five years. They’ve also adopted electric ride-share services for short trips, where this is feasible.
“We’re doing the best we can with the equipment that can’t yet be transitioned,” explains Brendon Cowles, the Council’s fleet manager. “Reducing carbon emissions is a priority, but reducing operating costs is also a significant driver for us.”
Key to the transition’s success, and getting the maintenance team on board, was focusing on matching equipment to specific park requirements. They aim to mow fortnightly, striking a balance between maintaining high presentation standards and minimising resource use.
“Three days into my role, an operator pulled me aside, worried we’d change everything to electric,” recalls Brendon. “I assured them we’d only adopt electric equipment if it was fit for purpose. Today, those same operators are leading the way in adoption.”
The cost benefit of going electric
Council’s ambitious carbon-neutral goals set for 2030 also makes sound financial sense.
“The cost of petrol and diesel in New Zealand is incredibly high, which has a massive impact on our operating costs. We estimate we will save NZ$600k in fuel” notes Rupert Bool, Parks Maintenance Manager.
Electric vehicles, mowers and equipment offer substantial savings in fuel, oil, hydraulic fluid and general maintenance. Servicing electric models is simpler and less frequent compared to diesel or petrol counterparts, which result in further cost savings over the equipment’s lifecycle.
Infrastructure upgrades and their challenges
Transitioning to electric equipment required significant upgrades to Council’s infrastructure, but Brendon and Rupert say their planning ensured the process was relatively straightforward.
The Council commissioned an engineering report to work out its power requirements. It then installed additional power points to support electric mowers, weed eaters and blowers. Brendon and Rupert are confident these investments will pay off in the long term. They also plan to build new solar-powered depots with the power infrastructure in place to recharge their electric fleet.
While the transition wasn’t without challenges – many of the electric passenger vehicles in their fleet are parked in a public car park where they couldn’t install charging infrastructure – it forced the Council to look for innovative solutions. They’re now using external transformers and are in the process of forging a partnership with an electric ride-share company to use their charging ports.
Training staff to safely charge and handle electric equipment was a priority, ensuring a smooth and safe adoption of new processes.
Getting the maintenance team on board
Gaining operator buy-in was crucial for the success of the transition.
“We didn’t force it on operators… overall the operators find them nicer to use. They enjoy the low noise and low vibration, so we’ve received positive feedback from them so far,” says Rupert.
The Council provided training on operating the new zero-turn mowers, and safely loading and unloading them from trucks.
“We transport mowers on flat deck trucks. The zero turns can be tricky for novice mowers. So, we have focused training on loading and unloading,” says Rupert.
This collaborative approach involving the whole maintenance team has fostered a sense of ownership among them, helping to drive the successful adoption of the electric mowers.
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Outcomes and impact
The transition to electric equipment has delivered clear benefits for both the Council and the community. Quieter operations have improved public perception, while reduced emissions contribute to better air quality across Christchurch.
The Council is already tracking reduced maintenance and operating costs and plans to evaluate electricity savings against fuel costs in the near future. Older diesel and petrol mowers, which required frequent and costly repairs, have been largely phased out, with the more reliable electric models taking their place.
“Overall we’re very happy with the electric mowers,” says Rupert. “There are only a few things that can go wrong, and when they do, it’s usually as simple as replacing a part. We have far more issues and downtime with diesel and petrol mowers than electric.”
Lessons learned
Christchurch City Council’s experience offers valuable insights for other councils considering a similar transition:
These lessons have already inspired other councils in New Zealand to explore electric solutions. Christchurch City Council regularly fields calls from their counterparts at other councils asking for advice on electric mowers.
“We fully endorse what we’ve done,” Rupert says. “It has been very successful.”
About Christchurch City Council
Looking ahead
Christchurch City Council continues to push forward with its sustainability goals.
Closer to home, more than 90 Australian councils are already using EcoTeq outdoor landscaping and cleansing equipment.
The next step towards a fully electric fleet is clearer than ever.
Ready to move forward?
Talk to EcoTeq about trialling electric mowers or planning your fleet transition today.
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