Electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD has formally introduced its Class 8 battery-electric refuse truck for the North American market at the 2017 ACT Expo in Long Beach, Calif.
“BYD continues to lead the heavy-duty electric vehicle market with our advanced battery technology, and this new refuse truck is just the latest example of our vehicle solutions that can save fleet customers tens of thousands of dollars annually,” says Stella Li, president of BYD Motors. “BYD’s medium- and heavy-duty battery electric vehicles have a lower total cost of ownership and can be a one-for-one replacement with fossil fueled vehicles in fleet operations.”
According to BYD, its 10-ton payload refuse truck provides 76 miles of range with minimal battery degradation. The truck is a cab and chassis platform, which includes the batteries, high-voltage control system, all-electric propulsion system, and electric power take off (ePTO) for powering the hydraulic system to operate the refuse truck bodies. The company says this platform is designed to integrate with all of the major refuse truck body builders in North America and can be configured as a side loader, automated side loader, front loader, rear loader, or roll off.
BYD claims fleet managers can expect more than $13,000 of operational cost savings annually based on service routes of 60 miles per day/five days a week. These savings are due to high-efficiency electric motors and motor controls, as well as lower maintenance on propulsion systems, fewer fluids to change, less brake wear due to regenerative braking technology, and fewer moving parts. Manufactured in Lancaster, Calif., the BYD refuse truck is compliant with FMVSS and CMVSS regulations.
The BYD battery-electric refuse truck can charge at 40 kW, 80 kW, 100 kW, or 200 kW rates, requiring between one and five hours to charge depending on the power interface used. The company says its refuse truck battery technology allows for a projected 80% capacity after 5,000 cycles or 14 years, if charged every day.