Heil has acquired intellectual property from Boivin Evolution Inc. related to electric-powered collection vehicle (RCV) bodies.
The acquisition of Boivin's technology represents Heil's entry into the fully electric automated side loader market.
Boivin RCVs can be configured to be completely self-powered with their own battery packs for conventional diesel, compressed natural gas (CNG), or electric power chassis, and can also be integrated into the electric-powered chassis to use a common battery pack. An RCV using Boivin's technology can complete a full ten-hour route on a single overnight charge, while packing ten tons of payload. The use of electric RCVs offers waste haulers and their municipal waste customers a new tool for sustainability initiatives.
"With the advent of electrification of the RCV body, the need for hydraulic power is eliminated, thereby reducing the environmental impact and a significant cost component of truck bodies," said Boivin president, Claude Boivin. "With this all-electric body, maintenance costs are reduced, NOx emissions – when paired with a diesel chassis – are reduced, and overall energy consumption goes down. When paired with an electric chassis, Boivin technology enables an RCV with virtually zero emissions."
Concurrently with the acquisition, Boivin and Heil have entered into a commercial partnership under which Boivin will manufacture RCV bodies for markets in Canada and France under the Boivin brand, while RCV bodies for markets throughout the rest of the world will be manufactured and supported by Heil.
Heil and Boivin will also jointly collaborate in the development of future electric-powered refuse collection technologies.
