Heil, a provider of refuse collection truck bodies and technology announced the acquisition of certain intellectual property from Boivin Evolution Inc., related to electrically-powered refuse collection vehicle (RCV) bodies.

Founded by Claude Boivin, a 40-plus-year refuse-industry veteran, the acquisition of Boivin Evolution's technology represents Heil's entry into the fully-electric automated side loader market.

Boivin Evolution has pioneered technology that enables the operation of a fully-electric automated RCV. Boivin Evolution 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.

According to Heil, an RCV using Boivin Evolution's technology can complete a full 10-hour route on a single overnight charge, while packing 10 tons of legal payload, and still have battery charge to spare. In addition, the use of electric RCVs offers waste haulers and their municipal waste customers a new technologically and economically viable 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," Claude Boivin noted. "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 Evolution technology enables an RCV with virtually zero emissions."

Concurrently with the acquisition, Boivin Evolution and Heil have entered into a commercial partnership under which Boivin Evolution will manufacture RCV bodies for markets in Canada and France under the Boivin Evolution brand, while RCV bodies for markets throughout the rest of the world will be manufactured and supported by Heil. 

Heil and Boivin Evolution will also jointly collaborate in the development of future electric-powered refuse collection technologies.