New York City Department of Sanitation to purchase seven Mack LR Electric collection trucks

The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) plans to purchase seven Mack Trucks LR Electric refuse models which will operate in each of the city's boroughs.

DSNY took delivery of its first fully electric refuse vehicle, a Mack LR Electric demonstration model, in September 2020, when it began rigorous real-world testing in Brooklyn. Since then, DSNY has been evaluating payload capacity, regenerative braking, overall vehicle performance in their demanding operations, operating range and charging requirements.

The world's largest municipal sanitation department, DSNY collects about 12,000 tons of refuse and recyclables daily with more than 6,000 vehicles, the majority of which are Mack trucks.

The seven battery-electric vehicles (BEV) will be located in the seven zones within New York City - the Bronx, Brooklyn North, Brooklyn South, Manhattan, Queens East, Queens West and Staten Island. DSNY will use a DC fast charger to charge each of the LR Electric vehicles.

DSNY testing of the Mack LR Electric model remains ongoing. The DSNY Mack LR Electric demonstrator features twin 167-kW electric motors offering a combined output of 448 continuous horsepower and 4,051 lb.-ft. of torque available from zero RPM. The vehicle is spec'd with a two-speed Mack Powershift transmission and Mack's proprietary S462R 46,000-pound rear axles.

Four NMC (Nickle Manganese Cobalt Oxide) lithium-ion batteries, charged through a 150kW, SAE J1772-compliant charging system, offer vehicle propulsion and power for all onboard accessories, driven through 12V, 24V and 600V circuits. The three-mode regenerative braking system accounts for the refuse truck's increasing load throughout the day and helps recapture energy from the hundreds of stops the vehicle makes each day.

Featuring a copper-coloured Bulldog hood ornament to signify the fully electric drivetrain, the Mack LR Electric may be fitted with equipment bodies from a number of manufacturers, allowing the truck to be tailored to each customer's unique needs. Customers will be able to choose from the same driver/passenger side driving configurations, seating choices and door options offered on the diesel-powered LR model.