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Seattle's Electric Street Sweeper Pilot Program Seeking EV and Bike Lane Effectiveness Answersby Ranger Kidwell-Ross 
In September of 2023 the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) debuted a program to test out a compact electric bike-lane sweeper vehicle barely 5 feet wide and designed to weave between bollards and curbs to remove the leaves and rocks that can impede cyclists.Following a successful test run of the eSwingo 200+, a fully electric compact sweeper by Schmidt, SDOT rented one for six months to pilot its feasibility and durability in Seattle. This is the first electric protected bike lane (PBL) sweeper that SDOT is renting and testing, which will enable it to make an informed purchasing decision in the future. SDOT has already determined that most climate emissions in Seattle come from transportation, specifically short one to three-mile vehicle trips. Access to PBLs free of debris and leaves is a key strategy for reducing the city’s impact on the climate. This pilot is part of a program aimed at ensuring a safe and reliable zero emission alternative travel options year-round.
According to an article in the Seattle Times, SDOT equipment operator Paul Roach said for the most part operating the electric bike-lane sweeper is the same as running the city’s two diesel-powered bike-lane sweepers, except quieter. They’re the same size and have the same leaf-holding capacity. The seats are slightly less comfortable, though, and Roach said he is still getting used to aligning the brush right next to the curb. City officials cite two major roadblocks standing in the way of complete fleet electrification: adequate charging infrastructure and the availability of medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles, said Jessyn Farrell, director of the city’s Office of Sustainability and Environment. The pilot program was launched to support the City’s climate goals and progress towards achieving complete electrification of the City’s fleet by 2030, as laid out in Seattle Mayor Harrell’s 2022 Transportation and Climate Justice Executive Order. The eSwingo’s capacity ratings were developed on flat surfaces and roads, so one of SDOT’s goals is to determine the product’s operational capacity as it navigates the complex topography within Seattle. This will include assessments of the demand for sweeping, maintenance needs, charging time, charge hold, and durability in inclement weather. Additionally, the electric sweeper offers a quieter option for cleaning the city’s PBLs when compared to the traditional street sweepers SDOT has historically employed.
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SDOT is conducting four to six pilot projects in 2023 and 2024 to test operating new electric vehicles and equipment. These vehicles will help with a wide range of efforts, which may include street sweeping, bike lane inspections and spot repairs as well as potentially other construction tasks. SDOT officials say they have an eye toward how the program can expand on the 37 miles that make up Seattle’s protected bike-lane network.
In the meantime, the electric bike-lane sweeper is chugging along. SDOT is hoping to learn how well the electric sweepers fare in rainy and cold weather and what the charging schedule should look like for use during both the day and night shifts, said SDOT operations manager Sonia Palma. The sweeper uses Level 2 charging, the same used for many electric vehicles, and needs eight hours for a full charge.