Autocar releases Smart Battery Cable to advance refuse truck fire safety

Autocar LLC, a Birmingham, Alabama-based waste and recycling truck maker, has released its latest safety innovation: the Smart Battery Cable, designed to reduce the risk of electrical fires in refuse trucks.  

Refuse trucks operate in environments where electrical cables can be exposed to vibration, abrasion and contamination. Traditional unfused battery cables carry high amounts of current, and when damaged, Autocar says they can arc and ignite, posing risks to operators and equipment.

Designed for use in Autocar’s ACX, the Smart Battery Cable is engineered to alert the operator through the Autocar "Always Up" display in event of a short circuit. The operator can then stop the vehicle, preventing thermal buildup and potential ignition.  

The cable is used in conjunction with a vehicle crank interlock, ensuring the truck engine cannot be started again without an operator’s permission after an inspection or repair. 

Building on the success of its Advanced Driver Assist Module (ADAM), an OEM integrated active Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS),  the Smart Battery Cable aims to protect operators, communities and fleets through advanced engineering solutions tailored to the industry. 

“Our customers work in one of the toughest industries out there,” says Juan Higgs, ACX chief of engineering. “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.” 

Currently, Autocar says it's equipping select configurations of the ACX with the technology, with the goal of making the equipment standard across all configurations by 2027.