Mack Trucks Debuts New Medium-Duty Mack MD Electric
Mack Trucks recently unveiled the second battery-electric vehicle in its lineup, the Mack MD Electric. It is the company’s first medium-duty electric truck and follows the heavy-duty LR Electric, which entered production in late 2021. The Mack MD Electric made its public debut at the National Truck Equipment Association’s 2023 Work Truck Week show held in Indianapolis, Indiana, in March. The Mack MD Electric will be produced in Roanoke Valley, Virginia, at the same facility where production of the Mack MD diesel truck began in 2020.
“Mack established itself as an electrification leader with the heavy-duty Mack LR Electric refuse vehicle, and we’re excited to add the MD Electric to our zero-tailpipe emissions lineup,” says Martin Weissburg, global president of Mack Trucks. “This is another important step in our efforts to drive decarbonization and a more sustainable future, and we plan to continue investing in technologies that help improve the environment and society.”
About The MD Electric
The MD Electric will be available in Class 6 and Class 7 ratings. The Class 6 model has a 25,995-pound (11,790-kilogram) gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) and the Class 7 has a 33,000-lb (15,000-kg) GVWR. The new truck has a three-phase Permanent Magnet Synchronous motor and on-board accessories powered by Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide lithium-ion batteries in either a 150- or 240-kilowatt-hour configuration. Batteries can be charged using AC or DC charging units. The MD Electric is also equipped with regenerative braking, which allows it to recapture energy from the frequent stops the truck makes throughout the work day.
The new electric truck is available in 4x2 configurations with a sharp wheel cut for improved maneuverability in urban settings. The MD Series cab has a short bumper-to-back-of-cab measurement of 103 inches (2,616 millimeters) and borrows its styling cues and looks from the diesel MD and the Mack Anthem. The electric MD6 model does not require a commercial driver’s license when used for non-hazardous payloads, and both models can take on medium-duty jobs such as dry van/refrigerated deliveries, stake/flatbed hauling, and dumping.
No-Compromise Sustainability
“The Mack MD Electric joins the full lineup of Class 6 to 8 vehicles Mack offers to help customers meet their application needs,” says Jonathan Randall, president of Mack Trucks North America. “Building on the success of the diesel-powered Mack MD Series, the Mack MD Electric will help our customers meet their sustainability goals without sacrificing the durability, reliability, and total cost of ownership for which Mack is known.”
Source: Mack Trucks