Oshkosh, the 108-year-old American company known for its military vehicles and specialty equipment, has unveiled an ambitious plan to create a fleet of specialized electric vehicles (EVs) for the future. At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 in Las Vegas, the company showcased a range of innovative EVs, including plug-in fire engines, garbage trucks, and autonomous robots, marking its first appearance at the event.

One of the most notable announcements was the introduction of the McNeilus Volterra ZFL, an all-electric front-loader garbage truck equipped with an AI-powered detection system for refuse bins. The sensors detect the location of the garbage cans and communicate with the truck to ensure accurate positioning, followed by a robotic arm that snags the bin and lifts it for trash disposal. Additionally, Oshkosh is rolling out a new AI-powered, vision-based contamination system to identify and remove items that don't belong in the waste or recycling streams.

Oshkosh also unveiled HARR-E, an autonomous electric refuse collection robot that offers on-demand trash and recycling pickup via a smartphone app or virtual home assistant like Amazon Alexa. According to Jay Iyengar, Oshkosh's chief technology officer, HARR-E "makes trash removal as easy as ordering an Uber or a Lyft right from your home." The robot deploys from a central refuse collection area within the neighborhood and navigates to the resident's home autonomously for collection before returning to the base to unload and recharge.

For firefighters, Oshkosh introduced a new Collision Avoidance Mitigation System (CAMS), which aims to tell emergency workers when it's safe to get out of their vehicles. CAMS uses an advanced camera and radar sensor suite with AI to accurately detect the trajectory, speed, and proximity of ongoing vehicles relative to a parked emergency vehicle, providing up to two to three seconds of advanced notice of an impending collision.

Despite the company's ambitious plans, Oshkosh faces challenges in its contract with the United States Postal Service (USPS) to build the first all-electric postal truck. Last year, The Washington Post reported that the project was mired in delays, with only 93 trucks delivered to the USPS as of November. However, Oshkosh executives remain optimistic, with CEO John Pfeifer stating that "the reviews on the first vehicle are fantastic" and that the project is "going exceptionally well."

Political headwinds, including President-elect Donald Trump's promises to eliminate billions of dollars in EV incentives, could make success more difficult for Oshkosh. Nevertheless, the company's commitment to creating a fleet of specialized EVs demonstrates its confidence in the growing demand for sustainable and innovative transportation solutions.

Oshkosh's plans to deliver 165,000 vehicles to USPS, with up to 70 percent of which will be electric, signal a significant shift towards electrification in the transportation sector. As the company continues to develop its range of specialized EVs, it will be interesting to see how its efforts impact the industry and contribute to a more sustainable future.