Trucking news and briefs for Friday, March 4, 2022:
The new Mack LR Electric features a longer range than its predecessor, Mack says.
The Class 8 Mack LR Electric refuse model offers customers a more sustainable option for refuse and recycling collection. Mack began serial production of the LR Electric in 2021 at its Lehigh Valley Operations facility in Macungie, Pennsylvania, where all Class 8 Mack vehicles for North America and export are assembled.
“Mack Trucks, the market leader in the refuse industry, is also a leader in e-mobility, and this is another step forward in our ongoing electrification journey,” said Jonathan Randall, Mack Trucks senior vice president of sales and commercial operations. “Customer feedback about the Mack LR Electric has been extremely positive, and we look forward to continuing to advance electrification to fulfill the needs of our customers.”
The next generation LR Electric features 42% more energy and a standard 376 kWh total battery capacity offering an increased range, Mack says. Featuring twin electric motors, the Mack LR Electric offers 448 continuous horsepower and 4,051 lb.-ft. of peak output torque from zero RPM. The LR Electric has a two-speed Mack Powershift transmission, Mack mRIDE suspension and Mack’s proprietary S462R 46,000-pound rear axles.
Identifiable by a copper-colored Bulldog on the cab denoting the electric drivetrain, the LR Electric’s vehicle propulsion is offered through four NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide) lithium-ion batteries that are charged though a 150 kW, SAE J1772-compliant charging system. The four batteries also provide all power for every onboard accessory, driven through 12V, 24V and 600V circuits. The two-stage regenerative braking system helps recapture energy from the hundreds of stops the vehicle makes each day with an increasing load.
Montgomery Transport, a flatbed carrier based in Birmingham, Alabama, has announced a 3 cents-per-mile driver pay increase, matching the 3 cpm raise drivers received last year — the largest pay increase in company history. The company also increased pay for its dedicated drivers.
