The potential burden of hydraulic powered cleaning equipment

Maintaining the cleanliness and presentation of urban and residential streetscapes has long been a critical task for local governments in Australia. Councils have traditionally relied heavily on diesel powered street sweepers to keep their public spaces clean and improve the safety of paved areas, footpaths, gutters and bike lanes.

These machines use hydraulic fluid under pressure to power components such as the brooms and drive transmissions, suction turbines and their hoppers. It works well when it works well – but does come with its share of issues.

Hydraulic fluid spills and leaks, the environmental impacts, higher maintenance costs and injury risks are some of the issues that have plagued city cleansing and maintenance crews for decades.

The drawbacks of hydraulic equipment

The hydraulic system of a street sweeper comprises a complex network of pipes and pumps that distribute hydraulic oil throughout the machine. If any of these components leak or break, the pressurised oil can escape, spreading far and wide, which is a disaster during street cleaning.

1. Hydraulic fluid leaks: When a hydraulic machine springs a leak, very often the operators do not realise it at first and continue operating the machine. The leak of hydraulic fluid under pressure can cause it to spray over a long distance, which can lead to environmental damage, permanent pavement stains, and damage to historically significant surfaces such as unsealed bluestone cobblestone.
2. Logistical inconvenience: The logistical challenges of coordinating and dispatching clean-up crews to address hydraulic oil spills can be a significant inconvenience for councils. Time spent on the clean-up is time spent away from other core maintenance or cleansing functions
3. Environmental impacts: In public areas, hydraulic fluid leaks find their way into stormwater systems, eventually reaching vulnerable water systems such as creeks and rivers, leading to environmental damage and risk to aquatic life.
4. Higher maintenance costs: Hydraulic machines have an extensive network of over 250 hydraulic hoses, each representing a potential point of failure. When a leak occurs, councils must deploy crews to undertake a chemical clean-up of the spill, which can be both costly and time-consuming. Materials like sand are used to absorb the oil, and disposing of these materials is costly and requires careful handling.
5. Injury risks: The clean-up of hydraulic oil leaks involves not only environmental concerns but also the risk of injury to the public, presenting a major slip hazard on paved pedestrian surfaces.

Electric street sweepers are outshining their diesel counterparts

Enter electric street sweepers

With an electric sweeper that has been designed and built from the outset as electric, little-to-no hydraulics operate while the machine is in operation. Hydraulics may be engaged for certain functions, such as dumping the hopper contents into a waste receptacle. However, keeping hydraulics to a minimum, keeps risk to a minimum, too.

Advantages of electric street sweepers

Further to significantly reducing the risk of hydraulic fluid leaks, electric sweepers offer a number of key advantages.

1. Improved safety: The drastic reduction in hydraulic oil leaks means electric street sweepers lead to safer, cleaner public spaces, while also minimising the risk of slip injuries.
2. Sustainability: Electric street sweepers operate with zero emissions, reducing a council’s carbon footprint. They also eliminate the need for chemical clean-ups and excessive water use, aligning with the environmental goals of local governments and the maintenance contractors who service them.
3. Economic advantages: Designed with fewer moving parts and negating reliance on combustion fuel, electric sweepers boast lower maintenance and operational costs, making them an economically sound choice for councils. Of further advantage, State and Federal governments often incentivise the purchase of eco-friendly electric equipment with the offer of rebates and grants.
4. Happier community: Electric street sweepers are quieter and seriously reduce noise pollution, making them ideal for busy urban and residential areas. This not only allows maintenance crews to extend their hours of operation for greater productivity, but also reduces the volume of noise complaints.

A clean (and low-risk) sweep

Electric sweepers, designed and built from the ground up as electric machines, offer plenty of advantages for councils. While hydraulic equipment has been the backbone of street sweeping for years, the trend is globally shifting towards electric street sweepers, like the efficient EcoSweep 2000.

An electric street sweeper is more efficient because it has a direct connection between the power source and the motor, translating to just 10% loss of power. However, a diesel sweeper goes through a much less efficient process of burning fuel to generate electricity, which results in energy loss. This means an electric sweeper can do the same job with less energy, making it more efficient.

For a clearer illustration, refer to the following image which compares the loss of energy in hydraulic powered machines and electric powered machines. Using a 100% electric powered machine means less energy lost and more mechanical energy available for use, translating to more efficient operation.

The benefits of a clean environment

For many communities, clean and tidy streets are a point of pride. But city cleansing and presentation is more than a point of pride; it’s also a requirement of compliance with relevant safety and environmental regulations.

For councils, clean and tidy streets offer benefits to residents, local businesses and the environment.

1. Curbside appeal: City cleansing tasks such as street and pavement sweeping are intended to enhance the appearance and presentation of a neighbourhood or business precinct. When the environment is visually pleasing and welcoming, locals and visitors are more likely to spend communal time outdoors, engage in recreation activities and support local businesses.
2. Hygiene and Safety: City maintenance helps to keep away pests such as rodents, flies, cockroaches and mosquitoes, and the risk of diseases they may carry. Collecting litter and debris from footpaths, gutters and bike lanes removes the trip hazards and obstacles that can lead to falls or accidents.
3. Cleaner waterways: Litter and other waste can make its way into waterways, negatively affecting aquatic ecosystems and requiring clean up downstream. It can also cause blockages in drain systems that lead to localised flash flooding. Keeping streets clean reduces the volume of litter that ends up in drains and waterways, improves water quality, and protects flora and fauna.
4. Increased economic prosperity: Clean and well-maintained urban spaces and business precincts experience increased foot traffic, representing an opportunity for business growth, supporting local tourism and improving property value.
5. A sense of community pride: When residents and business owners feel a sense of pride in their neighbourhood, they are more likely to actively keep their own spaces clean and tidy. It may even encourage greater community improvement efforts, like graffiti removal and tree planting.

Request a demonstration

To request a demonstration of EcoTeq equipment and test just how efficient they are, contact us.