Mack electric truck delivered to Republic Services

Greensboro, North Carolina-based Mack Trucks says it has delivered a preproduction Mack LR Electric model to Phoenix-based Republic Services Inc. to begin in-service trials in that firm’s fleet. Mack and Republic conducted the handover during a virtual press event at Mack world headquarters in Greensboro.

Mack says it will “use key learnings from the trials to further refine the LR Electric” as it prepares to accept orders for the truck in the fourth quarter of 2020. Full production of the LR has been scheduled for early 2021, at the recently expanded Mack Lehigh Valley Operations facility in Pennsylvania.

“Mack Trucks is extremely pleased that Republic’s very first fully electric refuse vehicle is the Mack LR Electric,” says Jonathan Randall, Mack Trucks senior vice president of North American sales and commercial operations. “The LR Electric offers numerous benefits, including zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and quieter operation, and we look forward to partnering with Republic to meet its business needs through this fully electric truck.”

Mack says Republic will test the LR Electric model in Hickory, North Carolina, on one of its residential recycling collection routes. The LR Electric will be evaluated for its range, functionality and payload capacity.

The Mack LR Electric delivered to Republic is powered by four lithium-ion NMC (lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide) batteries. The model features a Command-SST automated side loader refuse body provided by Chattanooga, Tennessee-based Heil Environmental Mack says equipment bodies from various manufacturers are available to be paired with the LR Electric.