At CES 2025, AI-powered garbage trucks reduce battery fire risk

Spectators walk past an Electric Refuse Collection Vehicle at the Oshkosh booth at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Republic showcased a state-of-the-art garbage truck built by industrial company Oshkosh that screens for lithium-ion batteries. — AFP

LAS VEGAS: From laptops to EVs, lithium-ion batteries have fuelled phenomenal growth in the 21st century, but businesses struggle with a significant downside: increased fire risk.

At this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES), companies unveiled a next-generation garbage truck designed to detect these highly flammable batteries.