Battle Motors introduces battery electric truck in California

In a move toward meeting statewide targets for sustainable urban waste management, Battle Motors, New Philadelphia, Ohio, has unveiled its California electric vehicle (EV) refuse truck, the three-axle LET2 (Low Entry Tilt 2), featuring the Heil’s Rapid Rail automated side loader (ASL) technology.

With an 8.67-ton payload capacity, Battle Motors’ tech-driven truck represents a leap forward in waste management, distinguishing itself from conventional compressed natural gas (CNG) alternatives with its payload efficiency, zero emissions and life cycle cost-effectiveness.

“Battle Motors is immensely proud to introduce our EV refuse truck in California,” Battle Motors CEO and founder Michael Patterson says. “The Battle Motors’ LET2 EV truck incorporating Heil Rapid Rail ASL technology is a testament to our unwavering commitment to sustainable transportation solutions and our determination to contribute significantly to California’s carbon reduction objectives. Battle Motors is taking the lead in transforming waste management and driving [into] a cleaner, greener future in our state and beyond.”

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This heavy-duty truck’s robust feature set translates into large-scale, measurable improvements, especially when considering an entire fleet. For example, the expanded payload capacity reduces waste collection trips on a three-axle configuration, reducing road congestion and minimizing transportation-related carbon emissions. The truck’s electric motor ensures near-silent operation, curbing noise pollution during waste collection activities—a critical attribute in residential neighborhoods that fosters positive relations between operators and local communities.

The heart of this advanced solution is Battle Motors’ in-cab technologies, including a digital dash running everything from proprietary RevolutionOS to Jerusalem-based MobilEye’s vision-based safety systems. Chattanooga, Tennessee-based Heil’s Rapid Rail ASL technology has more than three decades of reliability in automated refuse collection. Its includes a lengthy reach, swift cycle times, a continuous packing system and a structurally efficient design, all of which contribute to productivity and efficiency for fleets of all sizes.

“In collaboration with Battle Motors, Heil’s proven Rapid Rail body, one of the lightest, most efficient automated side loaders in the domestic market, not only addresses the weight challenges posed by electric chassis but also allows for a 3-axle configuration, further maximizing overall load capacity,” says Pat Carroll, president of Environmental Solutions Group, which is the parent company of Heil. “Combined with a reduced battery consumption rate versus traditional sideload bodies, we’re clearly demonstrating our dedication to making compliance with California’s SB 1383 a seamless proposition for our fleets as we help shape a more efficient, sustainable future.”

Charging convenience and efficiency are other key advantages of the LET2 EV truck. Through Battle Motors’ partnership with PositivEnergy, a Bound Brook, New Jersey-based company offering turn-key Level 2 and 3 charging solutions. Ideal for the refuse segment, a driver can arrive in the morning, do their route and the vehicle charges overnight in the yard so when they return the next morning, the truck is good to go.

“The Battle Motors’ LET2 EV with the Heil Rapid Rail is poised to handle 1,000 to 1,200 refuse containers per day [with] between eight to 10 hours on route collecting refuse before needing a recharge,” Fontana, California-based Velocity Truck Centers Fleet and Municipal Sales Representative Ron Creighton says. “Playing a role in optimizing this game-changing refuse truck for the Southern California market along with partners such as Bodyworks Equipment, Inc. underscores Velocity Truck Centers’ commitment to providing electric mobility to our valued customers while also offering them a forward-looking blueprint for support and services.”