Mack Electric model is Alabama bound

The city of Mobile, Alabama, has ordered a Mack LR Electric Class 8 refuse vehicle to help it achieve its goals of being a more resilient and energy-efficient city, according to Greensboro, North Carolina-based Mack Trucks.

The sale follows several other LR Electric collection truck sales announced two months ago at the Waste Expo event in Las Vegas.

“Mack would like to thank and congratulate the city of Mobile for its advancement toward electrification,” says Jonathan Randall, Mack Trucks senior vice president of sales and commercial operations. “For over a century, Mack Trucks has led the refuse segment through many changes, and it’s only natural that Mack once again leads the way with the latest technology. We look forward to furthering our commitment and the city of Mobile’s commitment to sustainability efforts.”

“As the first electric vehicle (EV) in our public services fleet, we wanted something that could keep up with our existing trucks and our team members could quickly learn to operate,” says Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson. “The LR Electric provides the kind of comfort and usability we wanted for our staff, as well as the reliability we’ve come to expect from a Mack truck.”

The City of Mobile chose the Mack LR Electric as its first EV purchase in part because of Mack’s commitment to a delivery schedule that met the city’s needs, according to Mack. The truck maker says it also offered the specific type of electric refuse vehicle Mobile needed.

The Mack LR Electric model will operate within Mobile’s fleet of 26 refuse trucks. Mobile, population 187,000, received funds from the Volkswagen diesel emissions lawsuit settlement that enabled the purchase of the LR Electric vehicle. The City plans to continue to seek grants to help with the purchase of charging stations and the development of a comprehensive EV plan, says the city’s chief resilience officer Casi Callaway.

Four NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt Oxide) lithium-ion batteries power the Mack LR Electric model, with twin electric motors producing 448 continuous horsepower. A two-stage regenerative braking system is designed to recapture energy from the hundreds of stops the vehicle makes each day with an increasing load.

The city of Mobile’s Mack LR Electric will be equipped with an automated side-loader and will operate in residential areas, according to Mack. Mobile also is investing in a what Mack calls a “portable superfast DC charger.” The city’s Mack EV will be supported by Mobile-based Gulf Coast Truck & Equipment Co.