Mack Trucks was busy at the ACT Expo Tuesday in Long Beach, Calif., announcing it is seeking certification for two variants of its Mack MP 13 engine for California Air Resources Board (CARB) 2024 Omnibus requirements, while also announcing plans to release a battery electric version of its new Pioneer on-highway tractor.
Mack says CARB's Omnibus regulation requires a 75% reduction in NOx and 50% reduction in PM compared with existing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards for engines in Class 8 highway trucks for engine model years 2024 through 2026. Once certified, Mack says the new MP13 CARB 2024 Omnibus-compliant engines, rated 425 horsepower and 1,750 lb.-ft. of torque or 455 horsepower and 1,850 lb.-ft. of torque, will be available in the recently launched Pioneer.
“Mack will have a 13-liter engine that will be CARB 2024 Omnibus-compliant once certified, allowing Mack customers in California to have a fuel-efficient and more sustainable diesel engine to meet all of their highway application needs,” says Jonathan Randall, president of Mack Trucks North America. “At the same time that Mack is working to ensure its diesel customers have a durable, reliable highway truck, we also continue to invest and investigate other sustainable solutions, such as battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell power.”
Once certified, Mack says the two variants of the Mack MP13 CARB 24-compliant engine will be available to order on Mack Pioneer models as soon as they’ve been certified. Mack expects the certification process will be completed by the end of 2025.
Regarding a future BEV Pioneer, Mack states it will be the first delivery of a completely in-house electric platform utilizing Mack’s proprietary e-axle and Proterra batteries.
“Mack is proud that we not only introduced the Mack Pioneer, our most fuel-efficient and aerodynamic highway truck, but just three weeks later we are now also announcing that we will produce a Mack Pioneer battery-electric vehicle,” says Randall. “Mack has never rested on its laurels. We are celebrating our 125th anniversary this year, so we have both the legacy of Mack behind us, as well as the historical proven innovation that Mack has contributed to the trucking industry. We are proud to be leaders in sustainable transportation solutions.”
The Mack Pioneer Electric will be available as a day cab or 44 in., short sleeper, and is intended for regional haul, drayage and hub-and-spoke operations.
The zero-tailpipe emission version of the Mack Pioneer will be equipped with a new Proprietary Mack e-axle, that incorporates the most recent electric propulsion technologies, and will be powered by the latest generation Proterra batteries. Proterra is part of the Volvo Group, with offices in California and South Carolina, and its products are designed, engineered, and assembled in the U.S.
Mack says the Proterra H2-23 battery has been rigorously tested in-house to ensure the batteries can withstand the most demanding of environments, along with ensuring that the batteries charge quickly. The compact battery pack is designed with advanced active and passive safety features to mitigate risks and ensure optimal on-road performance.
