Republic Services is amplifying its transition to an electric fleet in a partnership with Oshkosh Corporation's McNeilus refuse truck business.

Two fully-integrated electric recycling and waste vehicle prototypes are scheduled to hit the road fall 2023. The Phoenix-based company currently operates a fleet of 17,000 trucks, with EV vehicles handling routes in two states. With an aggressive drive to lower Scope 1 emissions, Republic aims for half of its new truck purchases in the next five years to be fully electric.

"Our engagement with Oshkosh on the truck of the future will accelerate the transition of our fleet while providing advanced safety features and technology," commented Jon Vander Ark, president and CEO, in a media release. "We'll continue to invest in innovations that will help reduce emissions, benefit the environment and help our customers meet their own sustainability goals."

Oshkosh and Republic have had a long-standing relationship for the production of recycling and waste collection truck bodies.

"We are pleased Republic sees the value in this first-of-its kind integrated, electric refuse collection vehicle," said John Pfeifer, president and CEO of Oshkosh Corporation, in a statement. "We are like-minded in our commitment to electrification, active safety and advancing sustainability initiatives in communities around the world to make a difference in people's lives."

Republic Services added that the Oshkosh prototypes are set to begin collections in Phoenix, with additional testing to begin in 2024 in Santa Ana and Carlsbad, Calif. as well as Portland, Ore. The development is part of Republic's sustainability directive to reduce Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 35 percent by 2030. 

“Entry into new product categories is a crucial element of our 'Innovate. Serve. Advance.' growth strategy,” said Pfeifer. “With a deep heritage in the design and manufacture of purpose-built, heavy-duty trucks coupled with field-proven refuse body technology, Oshkosh is uniquely positioned to develop this integrated vehicle. Our vast innovation capabilities are evident in every aspect of this first-of-its-kind product.”

The Oshkosh electric refuse collector runs on a drivetrain featuring advanced lithium-ion batteries and an electric-axle system. The truck is capable of completing a full-day route on a single charge with zero emissions, according to the company.

"It was designed to minimize environmental impact and reduce noise in communities around the world, while helping customers meet their sustainability initiatives," Oshkosh added.

In a previous deal, Republic launched a partnership with Mack Trucks to test a pre-production model of the LR electric model truck within the company's residential recycling collection line of business. This collaboration with Mack in 2020 was a welcome one, as Republic performs more than five million pickups per day.

"To do those 5 million pickups, we operate a fleet of over 16,000 trucks," said Shane Walker, Republic Services’ area president – Mid-Atlantic region. "So obviously, with a fleet that size, we're constantly looking for innovative ways to improve efficiency and performance and then ultimately lessen our impact, which brings us here today. We bought we decided to partner with Mack because we want to take a leadership role in electrification. We think it's our future.”

In December 2020, it canceled its collaboration with Nikola Corporation on electric refuse trucks.