Many cities have adopted goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within specific time ranges, leading fleet managers to research and adopt alternative fuel vehicles. Many jurisdictions have favored electric vehicles, which have come a long way. Battery technology alone has improved in leaps and bounds. However, the technology still requires a higher upfront investment not just for the vehicle, but for the required infrastructure. With grant funding drying up for electric vehicles, it can be an investment out of reach for many municipalities. Pairing cooperative purchasing with hybrid vehicles, however, can connect cities with the equipment to meet their goals while not forfeiting function.

Global Environmental has remained an innovator in the electric and hybrid street sweeper market for over a decade. Its purpose-built, heavy-duty street sweepers prioritize reliability, innovation, and affordability. Currently, the company is partnering with cooperative purchasing organizations like Sourcewell to further aid cities interested in purchasing Global Street sweepers.

“Sourcewell has been very flexible with us on the necessary changes as the technology in these machines continues to change,” Chad Bormann, a member of Global’s regional sales group, said.

That flexibility has been huge for Global, especially with battery and charger technology changing rapidly. It ensures municipalities have access to the latest technology while still enjoying the increased purchasing power that cooperative contracts provide. It also ensures Global has the means to keep customers informed on the latest capabilities, including improved charging capabilities.

“Sourcewell has been the most adaptable cooperative to constant change. Other contracts typically span three or four years with annual modifications allowed. By that time, technology has advanced, and we have moved on to something new or improved,” Bormann observed.

Through cooperative contracts, Global has shared hybrid sweepers as a viable option for cities looking for cleaner-running equipment at a more workable price point.

“Hybrids will likely become more accessible to people due to their lower cost,” said Sebastian Mentelski, a member of Global’s regional sales group. “They remain symbols of efficiency and clean air and are significantly more efficient than diesel machines.”

Not only do hybrids offer many of the same benefits as all-electric vehicles, they come at a reduced upfront cost since they require fewer batteries. It also delays the need for extensive infrastructure to support all-electric vehicles, including the preferred fast-charging station, which can cost another hundred thousand dollars for installation. While some cities leapfrogged to electric sweepers, some are circling back to hybrids.

“So, these cities are considering EV options and thinking that it is great, but they also want something they can ‘refuel’ quickly and keep it operating. This leads to discussions about investments exceeding the cost of the initial machine purchase as they investigate the installation of ‘fast chargers.’ Now, people are starting to reconsider their direction,” Mentelski said. “I think we are reaching a middle ground.”

Global’s hybrid sweepers feature smaller batteries, and they can operate on battery power for a certain amount of time before the engine will start charging the battery. This is a massive improvement in hybrid technology when compared to 15 years ago when the engine was always required to run.

“For a period of time, they can actually sweep with the engine completely turned off,” Bormann said. “This is a significant advancement for us on the hybrid front. Regarding purchasing, some EV grants are now applicable to hybrid purchases as well. Even though the engine is present, it doesn’t need to run constantly to clean the street.”

“It’s interesting how things are changing, but we are trying to be first,” Mentelski said. “We strive to move forward, and we have been ahead of the competition in development since 2011.”

While pursuing innovations, Global had taken an old-school approach that favored reliability. For this reason, all of the Global EV sweepers produced to date are hydraulic motors rather than rushing into electric motors.

“The brooms are in the elements — in the water, in nasty environments,” Bormann said. “We still use hydraulic motors because they’re extremely reliable. Although high-torque electric motors are available and could have been implemented right away, they hadn’t been proven in the wettest, dirtiest conditions that street sweepers encounter. As technology improves, we anticipate transitioning to electric motors.”

Sticking with proven hydraulic motors ensured purchasers were not left with an expensive paperweight. While some European companies are bringing electric motors over for sweepers, Bormann and Mentelski noted that the applications between European cities and U.S. cities are very different. In Europe, cities largely complete scheduled routines or maintenance sweepings. In the U.S., most cities are covering more ground, picking up after storms or performing other heavy-duty applications.

“It’s the approach of tried and proven and not completely reinventing the wheel all at once, but meeting the demands of different regulations and EPA requirements,” Bormann said.

While some grants — like the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust Funding — are drying, many still exist, and Global offers another advantage for would-be purchasers.

When an international airport in the Midwest needed a new sweeper, it used Federal Aviation Administration grants to purchase a Global sweeper. To use these funds, the airport needed to purchase an American-made sweeper. During the application process, Global showed the FAA proof of its American-made component percentages. Global’s sweeper successfully met those standards without requiring a waiver.

“This is a huge advantage for Global and our partners,” Bormann said. “We build our machines from the ground up, including our own chassis, and ensure that even with the batteries, which primarily come from China, the rest of the machine can meet the ‘Buy American’ requirements.”

Sourcewell includes a “Buy American” section within its Request for Proposal documents that key in on American-made goods, and the assistance they can provide through the purchasing process while utilizing the co-op purchasing avenue.

“The typical government agency in the United States takes pride in purchasing American-made goods using resources like Sourcewell to streamline the purchase,” Bormann shared. “With the FAA findings, I can also validate Global’s ‘Buy American’ percentages.”

Global Environmental Products Inc.’s Sourcewell contract number is 093021-GEP. The contract and other related documents can be found on the Sourcewell website at https:www.sourcewell-mn.gov/cooperative-purchasing/093021-gep. For additional information or assistance, visit globalsweeper.com.

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