Mack Trucks has announced plans to commercialize the Mack LR Electric, its refuse model equipped with a fully-electric integrated Mack drivetrain. Orders for the Mack LR Electric will open in Q4 of 2020, with deliveries beginning in 2021.
Mack says the LR Electric will meet the needs of customers working in an urban setting who are seeking to cut noise pollution and operate quietly at night.
Introduced as a prototype in 2018, the LR Electric features Mack’s fully integrated electric powertrain with twin electric motors and four NMC lithium-ion batteries providing vehicle propulsion, as well as power for all onboard accessories. A three-mode regenerative braking system takes into account the truck’s increasing load and helps recapture energy from the hundreds of stops refuse trucks make per day, Mack says.
In a nod to its pedigree and fully electric driveline, LR Electric models will feature a copper Bulldog mounted on the front of each truck.
The LR Electric may be fitted with equipment bodies from several manufacturers, allowing the customer to tailor the truck to their specific application. Customers will be able to choose from the same driver/passenger side driving configurations, seating choices and door options offered on the diesel-powered LR, Mack says, adding minimal changes to the gauges and select switchgear were made, allowing Mack to carry over the ergonomic driver-designed LR cab.
The LR Electric will be monitored by Mack GuardDog Connect, a proactive telematics solution that monitors vehicle performance to help customers avoid unplanned downtime. LR Electric-focused service training and electrical safety curriculum will also be deployed to the Mack dealer network.
