FOLSOM — After nearly two years of repeated delays and reported mechanical issues, the Folsom City Council voted Tuesday to terminate its $1.1 million contract with Western Truck Parts and Equipment Company for two electric refuse collection vehicles.
The original purchase, approved in August 2022, aimed to pilot zero-emission alternatives for the city’s Solid Waste Division and align with California’s clean-fleet requirements. The order included one side loader for residential service and one rear loader for bulky waste, alongside a larger order of 14 diesel trucks that have since been delivered.
Public Works staff said the electric trucks have reportedly not functioned reliably. Among the problems were wiring issues, coolant pump failures, power steering fluid leaks, transmission breakdowns during delivery, and repeated failures during acceptance testing.
While the manufacturer later proposed upgrades—replacing inverters, transmissions, wiring harnesses, and adding hill-start assist and synthetic sound for safety—Folsom was unable to obtain references from other agencies using the modified chassis. By mid-2025, staff’s confidence in future performance had eroded.
Terminating the contract will forfeit about $542,000 in grant and incentive funding, including $240,000 from the state’s Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project and $302,000 in regional grants, but it saves the city roughly $810,000 in net expenditures. The funds had been encumbered in the Solid Waste Operating Fund for the project.
Public Works Director Rebecca Neves told the council that while the city remains committed to sustainability goals, the technology is not yet dependable enough for daily operations. “We’ve seen repeated mechanical failures, delays, and unresolved issues that make it impossible to move forward in good faith,” Neves said.
The decision delays Folsom’s electric-truck pilot program but protects city resources as it continues to meet state environmental mandates. Staff plan to monitor performance of improved electric refuse trucks in other jurisdictions before making future purchase recommendations.
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