The City of Santa Cruz, California, recently purchased a Mack LR® Electric refuse vehicle and plans to purchase another. The Mack LR Electric is the first fully electric vehicle in the municipality’s sanitation fleet.
The Mack LR Electric is Mack’s first fully electric Class 8 vehicle. Mack produces the LR Electric at its Lehigh Valley Operations facility in Macungie, Pennsylvania. The Mack Lehigh Valley Operations facility exports and assembles all Mack Class 8 models for North America.
Jonathan Randall, Mack Trucks senior vice president of sales and commercial operations, says it pleases the OEM that the City of Santa Cruz chose the Mack LR Electric as its first electric vehicle. He says Mack Trucks commits to “sustainable transportation solutions, and the LR Electric exemplifies this. The LR Electric is a zero-emissions truck and is also extremely quiet, allowing waste collection without disturbing residents and also reducing the environmental impact.”
MAKING GOALS A REALITY
The City of Santa Cruz is currently working on its Climate Action Plan 2030, which it will reveal to the public for review in June. The plan will outline sustainability goals for the City. To achieve those goals, Santa Cruz staff purchased the LR Electric refuse vehicle after investigating EVs produced by several OEMs. After testing and verifying the truck could manage the rigors of waste collection, Santa Cruz staff purchased the LR Electric. They also recently ordered one additional truck. Santa Cruz plans to operate the LR Electric truck in September on a route that is both residential and commercial.
“The City is committed to sustainability and green energy,” says Guadalupe Sanchez, superintendent of resource recovery for Disposal and Processing for the City of Santa Cruz. “The Mack LR Electric will help us reduce emissions, improving air quality, while also helping us move toward our environmental goals. Our confidence in the LR Electric was further elevated following a demonstration showcasing the vehicle’s performance.”
Santa Cruz has about 25 heavy-duty refuse vehicles in its fleet, consisting primarily of Mack diesel models. Each refuse truck typically lifts 900 to 1,000 cans per day. TEC Equipment in Oakland, California will offer service and support for the City of Santa Cruz.
“TEC Equipment’s Oakland branch is excited to work with the City of Santa Cruz on the next step in electrifying its waste fleet,” says Ashley Porter, TEC Equipment new truck sales manager. “This process is the result of a strong partnership between TEC Equipment and the City of Santa Cruz and the understanding of the necessary requirements to achieve the common goal of electrification. We are honored that the City of Santa Cruz chose to partner with TEC Equipment and Mack Trucks.”
THE MACK LR ELECTRIC
Mack launched the next generation Mack LR Electric in March 2022. It features 42% more energy as well as a standard 376 kWh total battery capacity for increased range. With twin electric motors, the LR Electric offers 448 continuous hp and up tp 4,051 lb-ft torque from zero RPM. Additionally, the LR Electric has a two-speed Mack Powershift transmission, Mack mRIDE™ suspension, and Mack’s proprietary S462R 46,000-lb rear axles.
The LR Electric also features four NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide) lithium-ion batteries charged by a 150kW SAEJ1772-compliant charging system. The batteries provide vehicle propulsion and power for each onboard accessory of the truck through 2V, 24V, and 600V circuits. Further, the two-stage regenerative braking system helps recapture energy from stops the vehicle makes each day with an increasing load.
The LR Electric features a copper-colored Bulldog on the cab—exclusive to the LR Electric model—signifying the electric drivetrain. Owners can upfit the Mack LR Electric with equipment bodies from numerous manufacturers based on specific needs. Mack offers the same driver/passenger side driving configurations, as well as seating choices and door options, in the LR Electric as on the diesel-powered Mack LR model.
Find out more, visit www.macktrucks.com.
