Nikola Corporation and Republic Services have discontinued their collaboration on refuse truck development.

The goal of the collaboration was to design and build a fully integrated refuse truck based on a zero-emissions battery-electric drive platform and body while also integrating multiple new systems into a new state-of-the-art vehicle, Nikola says. However, after collaboration and review, both companies determined that the combination of the various new technologies and design concepts would result in longer than expected development time and unexpected costs. As a result, the program is being terminated resulting in the cancellation of the previously announced vehicle order.

“This was the right decision for both companies given the resources and investments required,” said Nikola CEO Mark Russell. “We support and respect Republic Services’ commitment to achieving environmentally responsible, sustainable solutions for their customers. Nikola remains laser-focused on delivering on our battery-electric and fuel-cell electric commercial truck programs, and the energy infrastructure to support them.”