The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) plans to purchase seven Mack LR Electric refuse models, which will operate in each of the city’s boroughs. Mack made the announcement during WasteExpo 2021, June 28-30, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. DSNY will use a DC fast charger to charge each of the LR Electric vehicles.

DSNY took delivery of its first fully electric refuse vehicle, a Mack LR Electric demonstration model, 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 world’s largest municipal sanitation department, DSNY collects about 12,000 tons of refuse and recyclables daily with more than 6,000 vehicles, the majority of which are Mack trucks.

“New York City has set an ambitious goal of reducing GHG emissions by 100% by 2040,” said Rocco DiRico, deputy commissioner for support services at the New York City Department of Sanitation. “DSNY is purchasing these seven Mack LR Electric refuse vehicles in support of achieving our environmental objectives with a zero-emissions truck that is also extremely quiet.”

More About the Mack LR Electric

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 in 2021. The vehicles will be built at Mack’s Lehigh Valley Operations facility in Macungie, Pennsylvania, where all Mack's Class 8 models are assembled.

DSNY testing of the Mack LR Electric model remains ongoing. The DSNY Mack LR Electric demonstrator features twin 167-kW electric motors offering a combined output of 448 continuous hp and 4,051 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 150kW, SAE J1772-compliant charging system, offer vehicle propulsion and power for all onboard accessories, driven through 12V, 24V and 600V 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.

Featuring 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.