Romeo Powerm a provider of energy technology solutions, and Republic Services, provider of recycling and solid waste solutions, announced a strategic alliance to collaborate on the development of Romeo Power’s battery technology for use in Republic’s electric garbage trucks.

The two parties also agreed to a retrofit test program, in which diesel engines and related components will be removed from two of Republic’s vehicles and replaced with electric motors and Romeo Power battery packs, with a goal of delivering the retrofitted trucks by the end of 2021.

“By combining Romeo Power’s advanced energy technology with Republic Services’s vehicles, we pave the way for responsible and sustainable commercial transportation,” said Lionel Selwood Jr., CEO of Romeo Power. “We look forward to working with the Republic Services team and being part of their electrification solutions.”

Senior leaders from each company will sit on a steering committee that will monitor and guide the alliance. The two companies will work closely to determine the key performance metrics of Romeo Power’s battery packs that will suit Republic’s specific refuse use-cases.

Tim Stuart, chief operating officer of Republic Services, also recently joined the Romeo board of directors. “This strategic alliance is an exciting component of Republic’s fleet electrification strategy,” he said. “We believe our partnership with Romeo Power will strengthen our leadership position within our industry in both electrification and sustainability.”

Through its technology solutions and energy dense battery packs, Romeo Power enables large-scale, sustainable transportation by delivering safer, longer lasting batteries with shorter charge times. The company has a 7 GWh-capable manufacturing facility in Los Angeles. Its core product offering is focused on the battery-electric vehicle medium-duty short haul and heavy-duty long haul trucking markets.