Volvo Group‘s subsidiary Mack Trucks has turned over the keys to its highly anticipated Mack LR Electric demonstration model to New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) officials, who will put it through rigorous, real-world trials.

“Mack Trucks is proud to deliver to DSNY their first fully electric refuse vehicle, the Mack LR Electric, so it can begin its in-service trial in their demanding application,” said Jonathan Randall, Mack Trucks senior vice president of North American sales and commercial operations. “The LR Electric is equipped with Mack‘s integrated electric powertrain to help DSNY achieve their greenhouse gas (GHG) goals, while also offering a significantly quieter propulsion system.”

The announcement was made during Climate Week NYC 2020, the biggest climate summit taking place this year and coordinated through the United Nations and New York City. 

DSNY is the world‘s largest municipal sanitation department, with roughly 12,000 tons of refuse and recyclables collected each day by more than 6000 vehicles. Their collection fleet is comprised predominantly of Mack vehicles. 

DSNY will base the Mack LR Electric demonstration model at its Brooklyn North 1 garage and conduct an in-service trial on local collection routes, evaluating operating range, payload capacity, regenerative braking and overall functionality of the electric refuse vehicle in their operations.

“We‘re pleased to begin in-service testing of the first Mack LR Electric within our fleet,” said Rocco DiRico, deputy commissioner for support services at the New York City Department of Sanitation. “Electric trucks will be a key component to helping New York City meet its ambitious goal of reducing GHG emissions by 80 percent by the year 2035.”

Mack announced earlier this month its plans to commercialise the LR Electric model in 2021, enabling customers to collect refuse in a more environmentally friendly way.

Featuring a copper-coloured Bulldog hood ornament to represent the fully electric drivetrain, DSNY‘s Mack LR Electric demonstrator features two 167-kW motors, offering a combined 536 peak horsepower and 4051lb/ft of torque available from zero RPM. The vehicle is equipped with a 2-speed Mack Powershift transmission and Mack proprietary S522R 52,000lb rear axles. The truck features four NMC lithium-ion batteries that are charged via a 150kW, SAE J1772-compliant charging system. All accessories on the Mack LR Electric model, including the hydraulic system for the Heil Durapack 5000 refuse body, are electrically driven through 12V, 24V and 600V circuits.

Mack unveiled the DSNY LR Electric demonstrator in May 2019 and demonstrated the vehicle to DSNY officials in January 2020 at the Mack Customer Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania.