Photo credit: Nikola

Nikola, the publicly-traded electric vehicle upstart, has announced that it’s secured an order for 2,500 electrified refuse trucks from waste collection giant Republic Services, with an option to expand to 5,000. The orders are due to be fulfilled beginning 2023, with on-road testing planned for 2022. The new bulk order marks one of the largest ever seen in the refuse management industry and more so in the electric vehicle scene. Nikola listed on the public markets this year but hasn’t sold a single vehicle yet. This has nevertheless not stopped investor hopes and optimism, with the company’s current market capitalization (as of writing) hovering at $17 billion.

The order for 2,500 trucks, as well as previous orders from several companies, represents a potential juicy revenue source for Nikola. The electric refuse trucks ordered from Nikola by Republic Services is expected to offer up to 150 miles of range on a single charge. Republic Services is notably the second largest recycling and solid waste provider in the U.S.