Alternate Fuels

Current List of Alternative Fuel-Powered Sweeper Makes and Models

by Ranger Kidwell-Ross

We have received a number of requests about what makes and models of U.S. power sweepers are able to operate on an alternative to gasoline or diesel. The following is what we found out after polling the different U.S. sweeper manufacturers in mid-2013.

As you will discover, municipal "street class" sweepers are dominated by the availability of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), although Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) have also come into the marketplace. Currently, NiteHawk is the only manufacturer offering a parking area sweeper with CNG or LPG.

Because of their significantly smaller size, a few parking area and indoor ride-on sweepers are now available with an altogether different power source: battery-powered electric operation. Several electric-powered tow-behind models exist for parking area sweeping, as well as a number of ride-on, primarily indoor sweepers. However, as of the date of this survey, batteries and/or alternate charging systems haven't matured as a technology with enough capacity to meet the needs of the street sweeping industry.

In the following chart, the information was up-to-date as of August 2013. If you have knowledge of any U.S. manufacturers and/or models we have omitted, please let us know. Note: Included are all models of sweepers that may be ridden. Indoor walk-behind sweeper models have not been included. Listings are alphabetical.

Elgin Sweeper Company

Note: Sweeper photos link to that model's web page.

PHOTO	MODEL	FUEL(S) AVAILABLE	SWEEPING TYPE
	Pelican	CNG and LNG (LPG by special quote)	Mechanical Broom
	Eagle	CNG (LPG by special quote)	Mechanical Broom
	Broom Bear	CNG (LPG by special quote)	Mechanical Broom
	Crosswind	(LPG by special quote)	Regenerative Air

Global Environmental Products

Note: Sweeper photos link to that model's web page.

PHOTO	MODEL	FUEL(S) AVAILABLE	SWEEPING TYPE
	M3/M3X	CNG	3-Wheel Mechanical Broom
	M4	CNG or Diesel/Electric	Mechanical Broom
	Python S3000	CNG	Mechanical Broom

Green Sweep

Note: Sweeper photos link to that model's web page.

PHOTO	MODEL	FUEL(S) AVAILABLE	SWEEPING TYPE
	Green Sweep	Electric	Tow-Behind Mechanical

Johnston North America

Note: Sweeper photos link to that model's web page.

PHOTO	MODEL	FUEL(S) AVAILABLE	SWEEPING TYPE
	VS650	CNG	Vacuum

NiteHawk Sweepers

Note: Alternate fuel models not yet on website. Contact NiteHawk for more information.

PHOTO	MODEL	FUEL(S) AVAILABLE	SWEEPING TYPE
	Raptor Edge	CNG or LPG (dual-fuel with gas)	Hydraulic Air
	Osprey	CNG or LPG (dual-fuel with gas)	Hydraulic Air

Schwarze Industries, Inc.

Note: Sweeper photos link to that model's web page.

PHOTO	MODEL	FUEL(S) AVAILABLE	SWEEPING TYPE
	A7 Tornado	CNG (Sweeper and Chassis)	Regenerative Air
	A7 Zephyr	CNG (Sweeper and Chassis)	Regenerative Air (Runway)
	A8 Twister	CNG (Sweeper and Chassis)	Regenerative Air
	A9 Monsoon	CNG (Sweeper and Chassis)	Regenerative Air
	A9 Monsoon	CNG (Sweeper and Chassis)	Regenerative Air

Stewart-Amos Sweeper Co.

Note: Sweeper photos link to that model's web page.

PHOTO	MODEL	FUEL(S) AVAILABLE	SWEEPING TYPE
	Starfire S-5s/t	CNG	Mechanical Broom
	Starfire S-6s/t	CNG	Mechanical Broom

Tennant

Note: Sweeper photos link to that model's web page.

PHOTO	MODEL	FUEL(S) AVAILABLE	SWEEPING TYPE
	6100 Sub-Compact	Electric	Vacuum
	6200 Compact	Electric	Vacuum
	S30 Mid-sized	Electric	Vacuum
	S20 Compact Mid-sized	Electric	Vacuum
	800 Industrial	Electric	Vacuum