New York To Buy Seven Mack LR Electric Models

New York City’s Department of Sanitation (DSNY) will purchase Mack Trucks refuse models, the Mack LR Electric, to operate in the city’s boroughs.

Mack LR’s commitment to New York

Mack made this announcement during WasteExpo 2021 at the Las Vegas Convention Centre. DSNY took delivery of its first fully-electric refuse vehicle, a Mack LR Electric demonstration model in September 2020, when it began strenuous testing in Brooklyn. DSNY has been evaluating payload capacity, regenerative braking, overall vehicle performance in their demanding operations, operating range, and charging requirements.

Jonathan Randall, Mack Trucks senior VP of sales and commercial operations said “The DSNY order for an additional seven Mack LR Electric trucks speaks to the fact that the performance of the current LR Electric demonstrator model collecting in Brooklyn is meeting and even exceeding their expectations”. He also said “Mack has long been the number one choice of refuse customers, and we are now well-positioned to be the industry leader in e-mobility as well. The Mack LR Electric is equipped with Mack’s integrated electric powertrain and will help New York City and DSNY achieve its zero-emissions goals.”

The world’s largest municipal sanitation department, DSNY collects about 12,000 tons of refuse and recyclables daily with over 6,000 vehicles which are mostly Mack trucks. DSNY Commissioner Edward Grayson said, “We look forward to our continued partnership with Mack Trucks in striving toward our environmental efforts to benefit the citizens of New York City”.

He also said, “The Mack LR Electric demonstrator is performing well, and we look forward to when we have one in each of our city’s zones.” The seven battery-electric (BEV) will be located in seven zones within New York City, the Bronx, Brooklyn North, Brooklyn South, Manhattan, Queens East, Queens West, and Staten Island will all use a DC fast charger for each of the LR Electric vehicles.

Rocco DiRoco, deputy commissioner for support services at the DSNY, said “New York City has set an ambitious goal of reducing GHG emissions by 100 percent by 2040”, and “DSNY is purchasing these seven Mack LR Electric refuse vehicles in support of achieving our environmental objectives with a zero-emissions truck that is also extremely quiet.”

Mack’s first introduction of their prototype Mack LR Electric at WasteExpo 2018 and announced their plans to partner with the DSNY for real-world applications in the largest sanitation department in the world. Large-scale production of the Mack LR Electric will begin in 2021, to be built at Mack’s Lehigh Valley Operations facility in Macungie, Pennsylvania, where all Class 8 models for North America and export are assembled.

DSNY testing of the Mack LR Electric model is ongoing, it features twin 167-kW electric motors giving a combined 448 continuous horsepower and 4,051 pounds to feet of torque available from zero RPM. The vehicle also has two-speed Mack Powershift transmission and Mack’s proprietary S462R 46,000 pound rear axles.

Four Nickle Manganese Cobalt Oxide lithium-ion batteries, charged through a 150kW, SAE J1772-compliant charging system, give vehicle propulsion and power for all onboard accessories, driven through 12V, 24V, and 600V circuits. On top of that, the three-mode regenerative braking system accounts for the refuse truck’s increasing load over the span of a day and helps recapture energy from the hundreds of stops it will make every day.

It also features a copper-coloured Bulldog hood ornament to signify the fully electric drivetrain, it may be fitted with equipment bodies from a number of manufacturers, allowing the truck to be tailored to each customer’s unique needs. 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 model.

For more information about Mack LR Electric, you can check out the link here.