Autocar has announced its latest safety innovation, the Smart Battery Cable. Designed for use in the Autocar ACX, the patent-pending Smart Battery Cable provides early detection of potential rub through and is engineered to alert the operator via the Autocar Always Up display in the event of a short circuit.

Refuse trucks operate in demanding environments where electrical cables are routinely exposed to vibration, abrasion, and contamination. Autocar said traditional unfused battery cables carry high amounts of current; when damaged, they can arc and ignite, posing risks to operators and equipment.

If alerted by an Autocar Always Up alert, the operator can then stop the vehicle, preventing thermal buildup and potential ignition.

Also, the cable is used in conjunction with a vehicle crank interlock to ensure the truck engine cannot be started again without an operator's permission after an inspection and/or repairs.

Built on ADAM System’s Success

Building on the success of ADAM (Advanced Driver Assist Module), Autocar's fully OEM-integrated active ADAS system, the Smart Battery Cable demonstrates the company's ongoing commitment to protecting operators, communities, and fleets through advanced engineering solutions tailored to the severe-duty industry.

"Our customers work in one of the toughest industries out there," said Juan Higgs, ACX chief of engineering at Autocar. "They depend on us to help them get home safe at the end of the day. That's why we built ADAM and developed the Smart Battery Cable: because safety isn't an afterthought to us. It's our purpose from the very beginning."

To Become Standard Equipment by 2027

Currently, Autocar is equipping select ACX configurations with the technology, aiming to make it standard across all configurations by 2027.