Get FinancingCasella Waste Systems Buys First Electric Refuse Vehicle In Vermont—A Mack Trucks LR Electric
Casella Waste Systems recently purchased a next-generation Mack LR Electric truck that will handle residential waste collection duties in Rutland, Vermont. The company introduced the truck at a December 9 ceremony attended by Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, Vermont state representatives, and local business leaders, as it’s both the first fully electric truck in Casella’s fleet and the first electric refuse vehicle in Vermont. Equipped with an automated side-loader with a split body for simultaneously collecting trash and recycling, the truck joins Casella’s fleet of more than 1,000 refuse vehicles, most of which are Mack trucks.
“Sustainable innovation is core to everything we do as a company,” says John W. Casella, chairman and CEO of Casella. “The opportunity to pilot the Mack LR Electric in Vermont will help us evaluate whether this is a viable option in other markets that we serve. The opportunity to cut greenhouse gas emissions, while maintaining a high level of service to our customers, is key to us.”
Ultra Service
A key selling point for Casella was the Mack Ultra Service Agreement that comes standard with all Mack LR Electric models and covers scheduled maintenance, preventative maintenance, towing, repair, battery monitoring, and Mack’s connected uptime services. The agreement is part of Mack’s all-inclusive Vehicle-as-a-Service (VaaS) program, which simplifies the process of purchasing an LR Electric by packaging the vehicle chassis, a refuse body, and applicable taxes.
The LR Electric
Mack launched the next-generation LR Electric in March 2022. Customers can equip it with bodies from third-party manufacturers to meet their specific operational needs. Although the LR Electric comes with the same driver- and passenger-side configurations and seat and door options as a diesel-powered Mack LR, it doesn’t generate any emissions and saves on maintenance costs, as there’s no oil to change and no need for exhaust aftertreatment systems.
The LR Electric is powered by four lithium-ion nickel manganese cobalt oxide (Li-NMC) batteries that together deliver 376 kilowatt-hours of power. The batteries can charge in roughly two hours at 150 kilowatts. The truck’s twin electric motors generate 334 kilowatts (448 horsepower) and 4,051 pounds-foot (5,492 newton-meters) of peak torque output from zero rpm. There’s also a two-stage regenerative braking system in place that recaptures energy from the frequent stops an operator makes along a route during the day.
Source: Mack Trucks