NC Town Goes Electric with Mack Refuse Truck

Cary, North Carolina has ordered a Mack LR Electric Class 8 refuse vehicle, making the town the first municipality in North Carolina to order one of Mack's new line of electric garbage trucks, according to Greensboro-based Mack Trucks. 

The Mack LR Electric is expected to be in full operation in the fall of 2023.

“Mack congratulates the town of Cary on their pursuit of sustainable operations and is proud that they have chosen to purchase and deploy a Mack LR Electric to help achieve their goals,” said Jonathan Randall, Mack Trucks senior vice president of sales and commercial operations. “We look forward to continuing our commitment to developing sustainable transportation solutions with Cary and our other customers, as well as helping them fulfill their environmental goals.”

Launched in March 2022, the next generation Mack LR Electric offers a standard 376 kWh total battery capacity for 42 percent more energy and increased range between vehicle charges. Twin electric motors produce 448 continuous horsepower and 4,051 lb.-ft. of peak torque output from zero RPM.

“The Mack LR Electric truck is our latest step toward creating a sustainable and resilient Cary,” said Danna Widmar, assistant town manager. “Cary prioritizes managing, preserving and enhancing our natural environment to support a high quality of life, so we’re looking forward to seeing how this addition to our electric fleet contributes to our emissions reduction objectives.”

Four NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide) lithium-ion batteries, charged through a 150 kW, SAE J1772-compliant charging system, power the vehicle and all onboard accessories through 12V, 24V and 600V circuits. The two-stage regenerative braking system helps recapture energy from the hundreds of stops the vehicle makes each day with an increasing load.

Featuring a copper-colored Bulldog on the cab of the LR Electric to signify the all-electric powertrain, the LR Electric offers the same driver- and passenger-side configurations, as well as seat and door options, as those that are available on the diesel-powered Mack LR model. The LR Electric can be fitted with bodies from various manufacturers to meet each customer’s unique set of needs.

Cary’s LR Electric vehicle will be equipped with an automated side-loader and will operate in residential areas. Cary, population 180,000, currently services about 54,000 customers, a mix of residents, and businesses.

To help simplify the purchase process and help customers better manage expenses associated with acquiring the Mack LR Electric model, Mack recently launched its all-inclusive Vehicle-as-a-Service (VaaS). VaaS includes the vehicle chassis, the refuse body, applicable taxes and a comprehensive vehicle protection plan, the Mack Ultra Service Agreement, for the Mack LR Electric model.

Cary is developing emissions reduction and green-fleet action plans to reduce emissions 100 percent by 2040. The town plans to accomplish this by transitioning individual vehicle types upon annual capital fulfillment with the best available technologies. Cary adheres to a Fleet Efficiency Standard Procedure that outlines its commitment to right-sizing vehicles, full fleet utilization, efficient driving habits, route planning, maintenance and measurements of key metrics like fuel use, fuel cost, emissions, maintenance cost, fleet size and miles driven.