Autocar testing all-electric cabover trucks

Autocar  has built its first two electric trucks.

The two E-ACX electric cabover refuse trucks, also known as battery-powered electric vehicles (BEVs), are going through a validation process to ensure they can handle the same challenges and requirements as their diesel and CNG counterparts.

The E-ACX-64 units are both automated side loaders that provide parallel engineering with Autocar body partners Heil and New Way. The first unit uses the Heil Command SST and the second truck uses the New Way Sidewinder 3.0.

Autocar is working with customers to test the trucks under real work conditions. The aim is to verify performance metrics and receive operator input for both units.

Refuse trucks are subject to all types of climates coast to coast, cycling through thousands of stops and starts a day, in and out of landfills and transfer stations, that put even the best engineered trucks out of service.

“We are excited to continue our role as a leader in green innovation for refuse and other vocations with the development of the E-ACX platform. Our process at Autocar is to design trucks that exceed the standards of our customers, so we are very excited to begin testing an all-electric ACX that highlights our engineers and technicians hard work, and input from customers,” said Timothy Thornton, vice-president and general manager refuse at Autocar.

“The E-ACTT team that developed our all-electric terminal tractor gets a lot of credit for leading the BEV development and bringing this technology to severe-duty standards. The E-ACX is another step in our goal to help fleets achieve zero emissions while not compromising on performance or durability.”