The City of Chicago has placed a purchase order with Motiv Power Systems for up to $13.4 million to supply 20 electric garbage trucks.

The ERV is a Class 8 truck with a Loadmaster Excel-S rear loader body and a Crane Carrier chassis. It has a gross weight of 60,000 lbs and a capacity of 9 tons or 20 cubic yards of refuse. Total power is 280 kW (375 hp), and top speed is 50 mph. The ten battery packs have a total capacity of 200 kWh, which supplies 60 miles of range and 70 compaction cycles. A three-phase 60 kW on-board charger delivers a full charge in 8 hours.

California-based Motiv’s electric Powertrain Control System (ePCS) is designed to electrify any truck or bus chassis with a variety of commercially-available battery packs and motors. The ePCS is installed as a ship-through modification, enabling electrification with minimal changes between fossil fuel and electric versions of the vehicles. Another customer is California’s Kings Canyon School District, which has ordered four ePCS-powered electric school buses.

Motiv also offers a remote real-time data system to monitor vehicle performance.

Source: Motiv Power Systems