Serial production is underway for the Mack LR Electric at Mack’s Lehigh Valley Operations (LVO) facility based in Macungie, Pa.
Mack Trucks’ announced Monday its first fully electric Class 8 vehicle, the Mack LR Electric, is now in serial production at Mack’s Lehigh Valley Operations (LVO) facility in Macungie, Pa.
LVO is where all Class 8 Mack vehicles for North America and export are assembled.
“Mack has long been a leader in the refuse segment, and we couldn’t be more pleased to now be producing Mack LR Electric vehicles to help our customers meet their sustainability goals,” says Jonathan Randall, Mack Trucks senior vice president of sales and commercial operations. “Customer response to the LR Electric has been overwhelmingly positive, and we look forward to putting more into fleet operations now that we are in production.”
Equipped with four NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide) lithium-ion batteries, the LR Electric is charged by a 150kW, SAE J1772-compliant charging system. Mack says the batteries provide vehicle propulsion and power for all onboard accessories driven through 12V, 24V and 600V electric circuits. A three-mode regenerative braking system helps recapture the energy from the hundreds of stops the vehicle makes each day as a result of increasing payload throughout the day.
The Mack LR Electric may be fitted with equipment bodies from numerous manufacturers based on the unique needs of the customer, Mack says. The LR Electric features the same industry-leading ergonomics and visibility as the diesel-powered LR model. The same driver/passenger side driving configurations, as well as seating choices and door options, are offered in the LR Electric as on the diesel-powered Mack LR model. Mack adds a copper-colored Bulldog hood ornament, signifying the fully electric drivetrain, is featured prominently on the front of the truck.
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“We are successfully producing the LR Electric at LVO, and we are fulfilling customer orders as we speak,” says Gunnar Brunius, vice president and general manager, LVO. “I’d like to recognize the hard work and dedication of LVO employees who have been eagerly preparing for this moment.”
Mack recently announced the LR Electric comes standard with the Mack Ultra Service Agreement, offering customers a tailored uptime package designed specifically to meet the unique needs of BEV. The Ultra Service Agreement includes preventative and scheduled maintenance, towing and repair, a battery warranty and monitoring via Mack connected services in a single package that can include monthly payments, Mack says.
Supported by Mack GuardDog Connect, Mack’s integrated telematics solution, the LR Electric and its batteries also will be monitored for battery health and performance, and fault codes will be detected when registered by the battery and electric components of the energy storage system.
TEC Equipment Fontana, California, and Northwest Equipment Sales in Boise, Idaho, were the first two Mack dealers to achieve Certified Electric Vehicle Dealer status. Numerous other dealerships are currently in the process of meeting the many stringent safety, charging, infrastructure and training requirements. Updating the facility is also required, Mack says.
