​​Heavy-Duty Electric Refuse Truck​

The Heavy-Duty Electric Refuse Truck (HDERT) project was funded by the California Energy Commission to demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing battery-electric systems in Class 8 refuse and waste operations. Refuse trucks are conventionally fueled by diesel, with some natural gas adoption. Since refuse trucks typically operate in or near residential areas on a regular basis, tailpipe emissions can negatively affect residents. Battery-electric systems offer a zero-emissions solution to the refuse truck segment, which typically operate in ranges up to 150 miles. 

The HDERT project successfully designed and built three battery-electric refuse trucks using the TransPower electric powertrain in a Peterbilt 520 chassis and with refuse bodies from Amrep Manufacturing Company, LLC, and Labrie Environmental Group, Inc. This was the first electric refuse truck built by TransPower and PACCAR, Inc. using the Peterbilt 520 conventional platform. Sacramento County Department of Waste Management and Recycling and Waste Management Collection and Recycling, Inc. in El Cajon, California demonstrated the electric refuse trucks in real-world conditions with typical refuse duty cycles, driving a total of about 5,470 electric-only miles, preventing about 2,485 diesel gallon equivalents of fuel from being used, and preventing almost 28 tons of carbon dioxide emissions from being released into the atmosphere. Additionally, fleet operators and manufacturers learned many important lessons on how to improve the electric refuse trucks.