33rd Annual NYC Equipment and Vehicle Event Shows The Future

New Yorkers know the sound of this vehicle coming. The wispy, abrasive sound of bristles picking up leafs, wrappers, and some less than pleasant items means one thing: It's time to reclaim your parking spot. Some form of standardized street cleaning has been a part of New York City life since the foundation of the Department of Street Cleaning in 1881. Since then, our bi-weekly street cleanings have become a necessity or a nuisance, depending on who's talking.

Either way, these street cleanings are here to stay. As such, the Department of Sanitation is working to electrify its fleet of sweepers. Produced by Global Environmental Products and US Hybrid, the Mechanical Broom is powered by a 120-kW traction motor and NMC lithium-ion batteries and charged via an AC 20-kW, SAE J1772-compliant charging system. DSNY says sweepers are out on the road 301 work days of the year and this specific sweeper will be stationed in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

Waste collection and street sweeping go hand-in-hand. For DSNY, it was an obvious choice to go with the Mack Truck electric offering, considering the department already uses thousands of combustion-engine Mack trucks. The department is currently using seven of these Mack Electric LR collection trucks, spread through the five boroughs. Fed through a two-speed transmission, an 167-kW electric motors offers an output of 448 continuous horsepower and 4051 lb-ft of torque at zero rpm.

"I wonder if it makes noise in the morning," one onlooker joked. While the diesel-engine grind is gone, the mechanics of operating the bed remain similar—days of trash colliding with hollow metal producing that familiar clanging sound. The noise that wakes you up at five in the morning may be of your own creation.

A competitor to the US Hybrid mechanical broom that DSNY employs, RAVO's 5 Eseries sweeper is made in The Netherlands. Based on the shared chassis diesel version, the RAVO street sweeper series is aimed at metropolitan applications. With tight maneuvering capabilities and a hydraulically powered front brush, this mechanical broom employs a front cab design as compared to the more centered US Hybrid model.

With a 100-kWh battery and 564 lb-ft of torque and 201 hp, RAVO claims a full charge time of four and half hours using AC charging and two hours with DC charging. The company has yet to provide figures for the range capacity, though a representative for the company did clarify that the range is largely based on application.

Ford's new Mustang Mach-E was out in full force, with municipal fleets and private retailers showing off various iterations of the all-purpose electric crossover. These two are a part of NYC's growing fleet of electric vehicles, following a commitment to eliminate combustion-engine municipal vehicles by 2035. The city has ordered 184 Mach-E GT models to fulfill roles in police, parks, and medical examiner roles.

New Jersey-based Elite Vehicle Solutions works to outfit emergency and commercial fleets to its customers' needs. From crash bars to rooftop lightning, the company was able to transform this Mach-E into a law enforcement-ready vehicle.

And some law enforcement agencies already have the Mach-E in use. In Quebec, Canada, the police force of Repentigny has worked with the jointly designed Kommander and CyberKar Mach-E on an EV police vehicle pilot program. The town's officers have been putting the Ford through its paces and are expecting additional models and a DC fast charger at their station.

Performance wise, an officer present said the Mach-E out performs the Dodge Charger police vehicle in acceleration and braking. Other unique features include a hollowed out center console, front and rear cameras, and radar and police database integration into the OEM center console tablet. A representative for CyberKar said the company is working on similar technology for ambulances.

Gone are the days of the classic Ford Crown Victoria yellow cab. A mix of Camry hybrids and Nissan NV200 passenger vans now serve valiantly, though new comers are starting to trickle in. With the help of EV startup Gravity, the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission has added Ford's Mustang Mach-E and Tesla Model Y taxis to the fleet.

These electric taxis will be charged and serviced out of Gravity's West 42nd Street hub in Midtown Manhattan. Cab drivers can rejoice with the potential for torque, effective brakes, and greatly improved comfort. Anyone who has ridden in a NV200 van will now quickly feel the difference. With ample storage and passenger space, the Mach-E is sure to be a favorite of ride hailers across the city.

Based out of Charlotte, North Carolina, Shandoka Electric Motorcycles was founded with the intent of keeping old frames with good bones on the road. Taking late model motorcycles and installing batteries and electric motors has given life to a number of decades-old chassis, including this Yamaha XS400. Using Shandoka's "MN8" system, the former twin-cylinder engine has been removed in favor of a 72V 60 AH Lithium Battery configured for 144V power.

The stripped out frames of a chopper and Kawasaki Ninja 250 represent infinite possibility for electric power upgrades and customization. The Ninja 250 frame has also been retrofitted to accommodate the MN8 battery system.

Delivery vans may share the title as the most ubiquitous vehicle in NYC, next to yellow cabs and ride share sedans. GM subsidiary BrightDrop knows this to be true, capitalizing on the increasing number of commercial fleets making the switch to electric power. With 600 cubic feet of cargo space and a range of 250 miles, BrightDrop has connected with numerous corporations to serve as the beginning of their EV fleets.

FedEx was one of BrightDrop's first customers, with the EV fleet centered in the Inglewood neighborhood of Los Angeles. Representatives for BrightDrop said the GM subsidiary has received positive feedback from FedEx, though EV integration is not without its challenges. BrightDrop is set to work with Walmart and Verizon in the future.

In addition to NYC municipal passenger EVs, New York State has also joined the commitment, aiming to have 100% electric school buses by 2035. The New York State Energy and Development Authority has been tasked with helping school districts as they make this change. One organization doing this work is Unique Electric Solutions, which converted this traditional yellow school bus into an EV.

With a fleet size of over 5800 buses, the Metropolitan Transit Authority is beginning the process of moving its fleet to electric power. After an initial order of 25 NewFlyer XE60 Xcelsior Charge electric buses, the MTA doubleD down on its purchase last May with an additional 60 buses ordered. The 2020-2024 MTA Capital Program also allocates funding for an additional 500 units of the 525-kWh electric buses.

This is an important move for the city, considering 75% of MTA bus depots are low/moderate income communities that are disproportionately affected by pollution. Drivers like these new buses as well. A representative from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said electric bus operators enjoy going home without the lingering diesel smell, in addition to the smooth acceleration.

Home to the US Open Tennis Tournament and a hop and a skip from Citi Field, Flushing Meadows Corona Park is the largest green-space in Queens.