A grabber arm mechanism for use as part of a refuse collection vehicle has a mismatched pair of grabber fingers which are both arcuate, with a first grabber finger being longer than a second grabber finger. Due to the mismatch in size in the first grabber finger and the second grabber finger, the grabber mechanism is capable of handling a larger range of container sizes thereby providing increased capabilities for a refuse collection vehicle. The configuration of the fingers (mismatched) also provides advantages when dealing with smaller containers.

A refuse collection vehicle includes a refuse grabber assembly, a lift arm coupled to the refuse grabber assembly, and a hopper configured to receive refuse from the refuse container. The lift arm is operable to position the refuse grabber assembly. The refuse grabber assembly includes a first grabber arm and a second grabber arm that are configured to cooperate to engage the refuse container. The first grabber arm includes a first gripper and a first support arm coupled to the first gripper. The first gripper includes a first deformable structure configured to contact a first surface of a refuse container. The second grabber arm includes a second gripper and a second support arm coupled to the second gripper. The second gripper includes a second deformable structure configured to contact a second surface of the refuse container.

Systems and methods for collecting and loading refuse include a refuse loading system configured to couple to a refuse collection vehicle and to load refuse into the refuse collection vehicle and a control system. The refuse loading system includes a container-holding mechanism operable to hold a refuse container, and a positioning system operable to position the container-holding mechanism relative to the refuse collection vehicle. The control system includes a proportional control device, at least one processor, and memory communicably coupled to the at least one processor. The memory stores instructions which, when executed, cause the at least one processor to perform operations including receiving, from an operator, via the proportional control device, an input to control movement of one or components of the refuse loading system, and, responsive to receiving the input, operating the container-holding mechanism and the positioning system to perform a portion of a refuse loading cycle.

A refuse collection vehicle includes a refuse grabber assembly, a lift arm coupled to the refuse grabber assembly, and a hopper configured to receive refuse from the refuse container. The lift arm is operable to position the refuse grabber assembly. The refuse grabber assembly includes a first grabber arm and a second grabber arm that are configured to cooperate to engage the refuse container. The first grabber arm includes a first gripper and a first support arm coupled to the first gripper. The first gripper includes a first deformable structure configured to contact a first surface of a refuse container. The second grabber arm includes a second gripper and a second support arm coupled to the second gripper. The second gripper includes a second deformable structure configured to contact a second surface of the refuse container.

A vehicle includes a chassis, a tractive element coupled to the chassis, a cab coupled to the chassis and configured to support an operator, a body coupled to the chassis and offset longitudinally rearward from the cab, such that a volume is defined between the cab and the body, an electric motor configured to drive the tractive element to propel the vehicle, a secondary electrical load, a battery configured to supply electrical energy, and a power distribution unit configured to direct the electrical energy from the battery to the electric motor and the secondary electrical load. The power distribution unit is positioned in the volume defined between the cab and the body.