King County, Washington state’s most populous county with more than 2.2 million residents, received a first look at its new Kenworth T680E battery electric vehicle June 9 at the Kenworth Renton manufacturing plant.
“We are once again catalyzing new markets to accelerate the transition to zero-emission fleets, this time with reliable heavy-duty trucks built right here in King County,” King County executive Dow Constantine said. “By leveraging the purchasing power of one of the nation’s largest counties, we are proving to manufacturers that there is strong demand for vehicles that cut greenhouse gas emissions, lower maintenance costs, improve air quality, and reduce noise pollution.”
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In 2020, King County, whose county seat is Seattle, announced its Strategic Climate Action Plan that sets goals directed at cutting greenhouse emissions in half by the end of the decade. To help accomplish this goal, King County plans to continue to add zero emissions vehicles to its fleet.
King County’s Solid Waste Division will operate the Kenworth T680E to transfer refuse from the county’s Recycling and Transfer Station in Enumclaw to the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill in Maple Valley. King County purchased the Class 8 Kenworth battery electric vehicle through Papé Kenworth Northwest – SeaTac.
“With this T680E, we will soon place into service our first Class 8 battery electric vehicle that will produce zero emissions in our local community,” said Pat McLaughlin, King County Solid Waste Division director. “We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and will continue to electrify our fleet to help protect the natural resources that define our region.”
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The T680E is designed for pickup and delivery, regional haul and drayage applications, and is available as a day cab as either a tractor or straight truck. The T680E has an 82,000 lb. gross vehicle weight rating and estimated 150-mile operating range, depending on application. King County also purchased a PACCAR charger rated at 120 kW.
