Isuzu Elf EV Garbage Truck is proof dirty jobs can be done clean

Garbage trucks get a bad rap for being dirty. Yes, it’s a dirty job, but as the saying goes, somebody’s gotta do it. The Isuzu Elf (called the N Series in the Philippines) has served for countless years as a garbage truck in many markets. Since the Elf can wear many hats, it’s not surprising that it has taken such a job.

But just because it’s a dirty job doesn’t mean you have to do it dirty or use diesel power. In fact, at this year’s Japan Mobility Show, Isuzu Motors Limited has revealed the Elf EV Garbage Truck, and it’s impressive.

Based on the light-duty Elf EV Isuzu revealed years ago, the all-electric garbage truck features the brand’s proprietary power take-off (PTO) unit, which supplies power from the EV powertrain to auxiliary equipment. This means the EV can power the heavy equipment it uses to make trash more compact as it collects it.

Isuzu claims that there’s no difference in performance compared to traditional diesel-powered garbage trucks. More importantly, the Elf EV Garbage Truck operates quietly and significantly reduces carbon emissions thanks to its all-electric powertrain.

The Isuzu Elf EV Garbage Truck comes with a 66 kWh battery pack, which gives it a range of up to 190 km. Its range may be seen as lackluster, but given the Elf EV Garbage Truck's heavy curb weight of 4,650 kg, it's understandable why it can only do nearly 200 km. Power is then sent to an electric motor that puts out 204 PS and 370 Nm of torque. It also has a loading capacity of up to 2,000 kg, which translates to more garbage collected within a specific route or day.

With Isuzu proving that even garbage trucks can run on zero emissions, vehicles like the Elf EV Garbage Truck show that even some of the dirtiest jobs in the world can run on electric battery power. Hopefully, we can see some Elf EV Garbage Trucks from Isuzu make their way to the Philippines soon.