Heil, Autocar and Recology to Deploy E-Refuse Truck

Chattanooga, US- Heil Co., Autocar LLC and Recology Inc. have announced the upcoming delivery of a fully electric refuse collection vehicle for use in the City of Issaquah, Washington. The vehicle has been jointly developed by Heil and Autocar and will be operated by Recology as part of its waste and recycling services in the city.

The new refuse truck combines Autocar’s E-ACX all-electric chassis with the Heil RevAMP electric automated side-loader body. Together, the systems create a fully integrated electric refuse collection platform designed to operate without hydraulics on route. The vehicle aims to support municipal sustainability goals while maintaining the durability, uptime and performance required for demanding waste collection operations.

The truck will be deployed under Recology’s service contract with the City of Issaquah. The city is recognized for its sustainability initiatives, including its LEED for Cities certification. The addition of the zero-emission refuse vehicle is expected to support Issaquah’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve local air quality and advance long-term environmental objectives.

Autocar’s E-ACX is a purpose-built all-electric severe-duty refuse truck developed specifically for collection applications. The truck uses an in-house EV powertrain and is designed to deliver zero-emission performance without compromising range, payload capacity or reliability. Through Autocar and Heil’s Power of One® Plus integration approach, the chassis and body were engineered together as a single system, reducing the need for additional modifications and improving build consistency.

Mr. Juan Higgs, Chief of Engineering, ACX, Autocar, said the E-ACX reflects decades of severe-duty vehicle experience applied to electrification. He noted that the company evolved its trusted ACX platform into a fully integrated electric refuse truck by working closely with Heil to combine Autocar’s electric powertrain with the RevAMP body.

The Heil RevAMP all-electric automated side-loader body is designed to work with multiple chassis types, including electric, diesel and CNG platforms. On diesel or CNG vehicles, the system can help improve fuel efficiency and reduce environmental impact. When paired with an electric chassis such as the Autocar E-ACX, it enables zero tailpipe emissions while maintaining the productivity and reliability expected in municipal refuse collection.

Mr. Tony Giles, Alternative Fuels Product Director for Heil, said the company’s focus has been to ensure fleets can adopt electric collection vehicles without disrupting daily operations. He added that the integrated solution developed with Autocar supports Recology’s sustainability targets while meeting the real-world needs of serving Issaquah.

Recology has a strong track record in recycling, composting, climate-focused operations and the early adoption of alternative fleet technologies. The company says more than 90% of its collection fleet is powered by renewable or alternative fuels. The new fully electric refuse vehicle will help Recology evaluate zero-emission performance on active collection routes while offering quieter operation and zero tailpipe emissions.

Mr. Salvatore Coniglio, Chief Executive Officer of Recology, said the deployment marks an important step in the company’s transition toward zero-emission collection. He added that Recology looks forward to learning how the electric refuse truck performs in real-world service conditions across its routes.

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