Recology recently began testing a hydrogen fuel cell-powered electric refuse collection vehicle – developed in partnership with New Way Trucks and Hyzon – in San Francisco. Recology said San Francisco will be the first city in North America to test it on urban streets.

In 2019, the company put into service its first electric Class 8 rear loader in Seattle. Since then, Recology said it has tested electric collection vehicles throughout its operations and has prioritized the use of renewable or alternative fuels in its fleet – reducing its emissions from fuel use by more than 77% since 2018.

“Considering there are more than 140,000 refuse trucks operating across the market today, waste collection presents an ideal application to showcase the viability of hydrogen fuel cell technology across the environmental services industry,” said Eric Evans, chief product officer for New Way.

Recology said its leadership got an early look at the new technology late last year, and New Way and Hyzon debuted the hydrogen fuel cell-powered electric refuse vehicle at Waste Expo in Las Vegas in May.

The refuse truck will be put to the test on routes in San Francisco, with Recology’s employee-owners at the wheel, over the next two weeks, the company said. After piloting this truck in San Francisco, Recology said it would test it in other Bay Area cities as well. New Way and Hyzon have scheduled additional trials throughout California later this year, to be followed by more trials in Canada.

Recology said this trial aims to confirm that zero-emission vehicles have the power and range required to complete collection routes and transport heavy loads.

All three companies said they look to show that the New Way-Hyzon hydrogen fuel-cell refuse collection vehicle is overcoming some of the inherent challenges identified with other zero-emission technologies, such as range issues, fluctuations in operating temperatures, and payload limitations.

“Our New Way Sidewinder automated side loader, combined with the consistent and regenerative power of Hyzon’s hydrogen fuel cell drivetrain, offers a lighter weight refuse vehicle, with similar range and performance as the diesel and CNG trucks,” Evans said.

Additionally, Hyzon in July launched its Class 8 200kW FCEV tractor-trailer trial program, which Recology said it also plans to trial.