NYC Sanitation buying seven electric Macks

Mack Trucks announced that the New York City Dept. of Sanitation (DSNY) plans to purchase seven Mack LR Electric refuse trucks, which will operate in each of the city’s boroughs. Mack made the announcement during WasteExpo 2021 in Las Vegas.

Mack Trucks announced that the New York City Dept. of Sanitation (DSNY) plans to purchase seven Mack LR Electric refuse models, which will operate in each of the city’s boroughs.

DSNY took delivery of its first fully electric refuse vehicle, a Mack LR Electric demonstration vehicle, in September 2020, when it began rigorous real-world testing in Brooklyn. Since then, DSNY has been evaluating payload capacity, regenerative braking, overall vehicle performance in their demanding operations, operating range and charging requirements.

“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,” said Jonathan Randall, Mack Trucks senior vice president of sales and commercial operations. “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 more than 6000 vehicles, the majority of which are Mack trucks.

“We look forward to our continued partnership with Mack Trucks in striving toward our environmental efforts to benefit the citizens of New York City,” said DSNY Commissioner Edward Grayson. “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 vehicles (BEV) will be located in the seven zones within New York City – the Bronx, Brooklyn North, Brooklyn South, Manhattan, Queens East, Queens West and Staten Island. DSNY will use a dc fast charger to charge each of the LR Electric vehicles.

Testing with DSNY

Mack first introduced a prototype of the Mack LR Electric at WasteExpo 2018, announcing its plans to partner with DSNY for real-world testing in the largest sanitation department in the world. Serial production of the Mack LR Electric will begin this year. The vehicles will be built at Mack’s Lehigh Valley Operations (LVO) facility in Macungie, Pa., where all Class 8 models for North America and export are assembled.

The DSNY Mack LR Electric demonstrator features twin 167-kW electric motors offering a combined output of 448 hp and 4051 lb. ft. of torque available from zero RPM. The vehicle is spec’d with a two-speed Mack Powershift transmission and Mack’s proprietary S462R 46,000 lb. rear axles.

Four NMC (Nickle Manganese Cobalt Oxide) lithium-ion batteries, charged through a 150 kW, SAE J1772-compliant charging system, offer vehicle propulsion and power for all onboard accessories, driven through 12, 24 and 600 V circuits. The three-mode regenerative braking system accounts for the refuse truck’s increasing load throughout the day and helps recapture energy from the hundreds of stops the vehicle makes each day.

Incorporating a copper-colored Bulldog hood ornament to signify the fully electric drivetrain, the Mack LR Electric 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.