Nikola has secured an agreement to sell all-electric garbage trucks to a waste disposal company in the United States.
As part of the deal, Nikola will provide Phoenix-based Republic Services with 2,500 all-electric refuse trucks with the possibility of 2,500 more at a later date. Republic is the second-largest refuse hauler in the United States so this agreement is quite a big deal and targets an area of the trucking market that most EV manufacturers have neglected.
The electric garbage truck only exists in the virtual world and a single rendering of it shows a futuristic-looking design with sharp and aggressive design elements. Compared to the garbage trucks you’re probably used to seeing, this one is much more appealing to the eye.
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Nikola says the electric trucks will be electronically limited to 1,000 hp and include both side-loading and front-loading configurations. The trucks may have a battery pack as large as 720 kWh and should be able to travel about 150 miles (241 km) on a single charge. Interestingly, Nikola will deliver complete trucks to Republic as opposed to just the chassis and leaving it up to the refuse hauler to get the waste hauling body installed by a separate company, as is typically the case.
“The Nikola Tre powertrain is ideal for the refuse market as it shares and uses the same batteries, controls, inverters and e-axle,” Nikola founder Trevor Milton said in a statement. “By sharing the Tre platform, we can drive the cost down for both programs by using the same parts. You couldn’t pick a better partner than Republic Services, a leader in long-term environmental sustainability and customer service. Republic Services will help us ensure the Nikola Tre meets customer and fleet life cycle demands and we are excited to have them participate in the design process.”
