What does a combination sewer cleaner do?

It combines high-pressure water jetting to break up blockages with a powerful vacuum system that removes the debris — cleaning and clearing a sewer line in one pass instead of requiring separate jetting and vacuum trucks.

Single engine or dual engine combination truck?

Single-engine designs drive the jetting and vacuum systems from the truck's own engine, cutting fuel use, maintenance and noise. Dual-engine designs can offer higher sustained output for heavy-duty municipal work. The right answer depends on your routes and duty cycle.

How much water does a combination sewer cleaner carry?

Freshwater capacities typically range from around 800 to 2,000+ gallons depending on chassis and configuration. A water recycling system can multiply effective cleaning time dramatically by reusing filtered water.

What is a water recycling system on a sewer truck?

A multi-stage filtration system that cleans water vacuumed from the line and reuses it for jetting — extending cleaning operations without returning to fill, which is especially valuable on long municipal routes.

Fleet Transition Guide · 9 min read

100% Electric Street Sweepers: The Municipal Fleet Transition Guide

Tell Equipment & Sales · August 28, 2026 · Electric Fleet

Jetting boom deployed over a manhole — the signature working position of a combination sewer cleaner

Electric sweepers have crossed from experiment to fleet-ready. This guide covers what going 100% electric actually means — machines, batteries, routes and budgets.

01 · What "100% Electric" Actually Means

The distinction matters: some machines are electrically powered but hydraulically operated. A true 100% electric sweeper is both — electric drive AND electric brush/vacuum systems, with zero hydraulic circuits anywhere on the machine. Fewer wear components, no hydraulic fluid, no hydraulic service, and dramatically quieter operation.

02 · The Battery Chemistry: Why LiFePO4

Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries dominate quality electric sweepers for a reason: cobalt-free chemistry, excellent cycle life, and thermal stability. For municipal duty cycles — daily deep discharge, reliable recharge — LFP is the proven choice.

03 · Runtime Reality: A Full Shift

Typical runtime runs 9–10 hours on mid-size electric sweepers, 8–10 hours on compact and pavement machines, 10–12 hours on electric urban vacuums. That is a full work shift per charge for most municipal sweeping programs.

04 · The Lineup: From Full-Size to Walk-Behind

Full-size electric sweepers: 5 m³ hopper, four-wheel steering — the ELECTRA 5.0 class
Mid-size: 2 m³ hopper, PM2.5/10 certified — ELECTRA 2.0 EVOS+ class
Compact ride-ons: tight-space sweeping with raised offloading — SmartWind+ class
Walk-behind pavement sweepers: sidewalks and plazas — MaxWind class
Electric urban vacuums: pedestrian areas and parks — CleanWind class
Electric street washers: washing bars plus rotating arm washing — Electra 2.0 Hydros class

Explore the full Tenax 100% electric lineup.

05 · PM2.5/10 Certification: The Air-Quality Angle

Electric sweepers with PM2.5/10 certification capture fine particulates — the particle sizes that matter for air quality programs. For municipalities under air-quality mandates or pursuing clean-city designations, certified machines fit grant criteria that diesel sweepers cannot.

06 · Noise: The Overnight Advantage

Electric operation is quiet enough for overnight and early-morning sweeping in residential districts — expanding the usable work window without noise complaints. Downtown districts that fought nighttime sweeping schedules accept electric machines.

07 · Total Cost of Ownership

No diesel engine, no hydraulic circuits, no transmission — the maintenance line items that dominate sweeper operating cost simply do not exist. Electric machines trade fuel cost for electricity at a fraction per mile, and brake wear drops with regenerative systems where fitted.

08 · Route Planning Considerations

Daily route energy budget vs battery capacity
Charging window between shifts
Cold-weather battery performance in your climate
Indoor facility charging infrastructure (a real facility project)

09 · Who Buys Electric: Beyond Municipal

Airports, campuses, resorts, amusement parks, zoos, hospitals, shopping centers, logistics facilities — anywhere sweeping runs near people, indoors, or under emissions rules. The buyer base is much wider than public works.

10 · Grant and Funding Paths

Clean-air grants, fleet electrification programs, and emissions-reduction funding frequently cover part of the premium for certified electric equipment. Your region's programs change often — ask us what's current when you request a quote.

11 · FAQ

How far can an electric sweeper go on one charge?

Typical runtime is 9–10 hours for mid-size machines, 8–12 hours for compact and vacuum models — a full work shift for most sweeping programs.

Are electric sweepers as powerful as diesel?

For municipal and commercial sweeping duty, yes — and with no hydraulics they have fewer wear components than diesel machines. Full-size electric units now carry 5 m³ hoppers with four-wheel steering.

What battery do electric sweepers use?

Quality machines use LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate) — cobalt-free chemistry with long cycle life and strong thermal stability for daily deep-discharge duty.

Can electric sweepers work at night?

Quiet electric operation makes overnight and early-morning sweeping possible in residential districts — expanding work windows diesel machines cannot.

Spec an Electric Fleet With Us

The full Tenax 100% electric lineup — sweepers, washers, urban vacuums — quoted to your routes. Signed dealer, Texas + New England.

Explore the 100% Electric Lineup →

Tell Equipment & Sales — Electric Fleet · New England & Texas · Company Overview