The old colloquialism “hit by a Mack truck" speaks volumes of the venerable freight hauler and its contributions to all that is tough about America. But as it turns out, even the mighty Mack has to gear down in favor of a wake-up call in the form of climate change. That was the vibe circulating the transportation industry on Wednesday that Mack plans to commercially roll out its electric-powered LR vehicle later this year.
Mack LR: A Quieter Garbage Pickup
The LR has existed as a prototype since 2018 and after extensive upgrades and testing, the company felt ready to introduce the model for the sanitation industry. The biggest winners will likely be the neighborhoods this electric beast will service. There won't be any nasty exhaust fumes and no irritating engine noise, meaning that late-night garbage pickup will be quieter than ever.
“This clean, quiet and powerful truck demonstrates the very best of Mack innovation and our people, and I couldn’t be more proud to announce our plans to build it,” declared Mack's President Martin Weissburg.
Two Electric Motors
The new LR Electric will sport an electric powertrain integrated with two motors powered by four NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide) lithium-ion batteries, which will also provide power for other functions on the truck.
Mack also devised a triple-mode braking system that considers the cumulative loads during pickups and can regenerate power by the massive number of stops a sanitation vehicle would make during a daily shift. The company could be taking orders for the LR as early as October with production and deliveries slated for some time in 2021.
Winds Of Change
There's no doubt that the arrival of the electric Mack is a sign of the times, and one that's in tandem with the U.S. Army looking to go all-electric with its lighter combat vehicles and those gas-guzzling Hummers steering towards greener options.
But regardless of what's powering the new Mack, it's probably going to retain its toughness title. Try mustering up the courage to get hit by one, for starters.
Source: Mack