MACUNGIE, PA—Mack Trucks Inc.’s Lehigh Valley Operations facility here has ramped up production of the LR Electric. The company’s first fully electric Class 8 vehicle is designed for refuse haulers.

Equipped with four nickel manganese cobalt oxide lithium-ion batteries, the LR Electric is charged by a 150-kilowatt SAE J1772-compliant charging system. The batteries provide vehicle propulsion and power for all onboard accessories driven through 12-, 24- and 600-volt electric circuits. A three-mode regenerative braking system helps recapture the energy from the hundreds of stops the vehicle makes throughout the day.

The Mack LR Electric may be fitted with equipment bodies from numerous manufacturers based on each customer’s needs. And, it features the same interior configurations as the traditional diesel-powered LR model. However, a copper-colored bulldog hood ornament, signifying the fully electric drivetrain, is featured prominently on the front of the truck.

“Mack has long been a leader in the refuse segment, and we couldn’t be more pleased to now be producing LR Electric vehicles to help our customers meet their sustainability goals,” says Jonathan Randall, senior vice president of sales and commercial operations at Mack Trucks. “Customer response to the [electric truck] has been overwhelmingly positive, and we look forward to putting more into fleet operations now that we are in production.”