Mack Trucks lines up EV-related allies

Greensboro, North Carolina-based Mack Trucks has launched a “comprehensive turnkey solutions program” for Mack battery-electric vehicle (BEV) customers created by the addition of two corporate partners: InCharge Energy and Blink Charging Co.

London-based Blink Charging provides charging equipment that “has contracted, sold, or deployed nearly 78,000 charging ports worldwide.” InCharge Energy, based in Santa Monica, California, provides “end-to-end, turnkey solutions” for commercial fleet electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure projects.

The partnerships are two of four Mack currently has with charging infrastructure development companies. “The Turnkey Solutions program is an end-to-end fleet management service for all aspects of developing infrastructure, including the charging hardware, software, site design, obtaining permits, installation, utility coordination and charging equipment maintenance,” the truck maker says.

In the waste and recycling market, Mack has two electric offerings: the Mack LR Electric and the Mack MD Electric.

“Mack Trucks is focused on simplifying the transition to BEV for our customers to help increase the adoption rate of sustainable transportation,” says Jonathan Randall, president of Mack Trucks North America. “We have our own team dedicated to e-mobility solutions, and through the Turnkey Solutions program, we’ve established a holistic program to support the charging needs of our customers.”

Mack says with the Turnkey Solutions program, customers can choose which partner to bundle charging hardware and services with the purchase of their vehicle—from InCharge Energy, Blink Charging, Gilbarco Veeder-Root or Heliox, based on their unique needs.

“We look forward to powering the MD Electric and the Mack LR Electric vehicles for Mack customers,” says Steve Kelley, chief commercial officer of InCharge Energy. “Our partnership with Mack ensures that the expanding population of electrified fleets will have guaranteed availability for the most seamless transition to more sustainable transportation.”

“Building a dependable charging infrastructure is vital in keeping electric fleets operational and on the road,” says Jim Nemec, chief revenue officer at Blink Charging. “We look forward to continuing to work with Mack as they move to bring e-mobility to fleets around the country.”

For Mack’s part, Ryan Saba, Mack energy solutions manager, says, “These strategic partnerships will provide customers with the support they require throughout the entire process, including charger uptime. This is a key differentiator for Mack since charging infrastructure continues to be one of the main barriers to adoption.”

Mack Trucks says its next-generation Mack LR Electric offers 42 percent more energy and a standard 376 kilowatt hours (kWh) total battery capacity for increased range between charges.

Four nickel-manganese-cobalt oxide (NMC) lithium-ion batteries propel the LR Electric and provide power for all onboard accessories. The two-stage regenerative braking system helps recapture energy from the hundreds of stops the vehicle makes each day with an increasing load.

Both models are supported by its Mack Certified Electric Vehicle (EV) Dealers program.