3/6/24
Mack Trucks recently began production of its
second battery-electric vehicle (BEV), the Mack® MD Electric, and delivered units to
several customers, who are using the truck in a variety of applications. Mack delivered
the Mack MD Electric to ABF Freight, DC Logistics, Mission Linen and Pronto Freight
Ways to begin operations and testing.
“We’re thrilled that the Mack MD Electric is in full production and that customers
are beginning to take delivery of the trucks,” said Jonathan Randall, president of Mack
Trucks North America. “We built on the success of the diesel-powered Mack MD Series
to bring an electric vehicle to the medium-duty market to help customers meet their
sustainability goals with the same Mack promise of durability and reliability.”
The MD Electric complements its diesel-powered MD Series sibling, but with zero
tailpipe emissions to support the company’s and customers’ long-term sustainability
goals. It was during Work Truck Week 2023 that Mack first introduced the MD Electric
model to the industry. Now, a year later, orders are being taken and the Mack MD
Electric is in full production at Roanoke Valley Operations (RVO), in Roanoke Valley,
Virginia, where the diesel-powered MD Series is also assembled.
The MD Electric is the second electric vehicle introduced by Mack Trucks to the
industry. The first was the Mack LR Electric, which went into production in December
2021. The Mack MD Electric is available like its diesel counterpart in Class 6 and Class
7 ratings. The Class 6 model has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 25,995
pounds, and the Class 7 model has a GVWR of 33,000 pounds. Both models are
exempt from the 12 percent Federal Excise Tax (FET).
“We continuously evaluate opportunities to increase sustainable operations and
improve efficiency while meeting the needs of our customers,” said Seth Runser,
president of ABF. “Participating in this pilot is a great way to continue testing electric
vehicles in our operational model and to advance our valued partnership with Mack. We
have a longstanding relationship with Mack and have relied on their equipment for many
years.”
ABF’s Mack MD Electric will operate in Oakland, California, and will do pickup
and delivery at various customer locations. TEC Equipment in Oakland will service and
support the Mack MD Electric for ABF.
“ABF has prioritized good stewardship of our resources for decades – a practice
that also drives efficiency in our operations,” Runser said. “By operating responsibly,
we’re able to meet the evolving needs of our customers and make it easier for them to
do business, while simultaneously reducing waste and emissions.”
DC Logistics is operating their MD Electric in the Inland Empire, Los Angeles and
Orange County, California. The company will be using the BEV for LTL applications
hauling various types of cargo.
The MD Electric is the first electric medium-duty vehicle in DC Logistics’ fleet,
though the company operates four heavy-duty BEVs. DC Logistics operates in Arizona,
Oregon, California, Texas, Louisiana and Nevada. TEC Equipment in Fontana,
California, will service and support the BEV.
“DC Logistics is committed to being compliant with all California laws, and other
states in which we operate,” said Alfonso Montesinos, director of fleet operations for DC
Logistics. “We chose Mack because we’ve ordered some internal combustion engine
(ICE)-powered vehicles from them, and we are very pleased with their performance.”
Mission Linen is piloting the Mack MD Electric because it would like to be a
sustainability leader in Northern California, said Ryan Severson, general manager of
Western Truck Centers, Mission Linen’s dealer. Western Truck Centers in Sacramento,
Stockton and Turlock, California, will support Mission Linen.
The Mack MD Electric will be the first electric truck in Mission’s fleet. Mission’s
MD Electric will operate in northern and southern California and will use the BEV to
distribute uniforms and linens to its customers.
“Mission Linen has a strong relationship with Western Truck Centers and Mack
Trucks,” Severson said. “They participated in the pilot because they wanted to
determine if it was a good fit for their business. “The Mack MD Electric is pound for
pound the best in the medium-duty EV industry and the most adaptive.”
Pronto Freightways is committed to ecological balance, which is why the
company decided to test the Mack MD Electric, said Paul Wozniak, president and CEO
of Pronto.
The MD Electric will be operating in Wayne and Oakland counties in Michigan
and will be conducting pickup and delivery of palletized cargo dock to dock within a 60-
mile radius. The MD Electric is the first electric vehicle in Pronto’s fleet.
“We were given the opportunity to participate in the program, and we jumped on
it,” Wozniak said. “Mack’s warranty, dependability and service made it a simple decision
for us to test the MD Electric vehicle in our operations.”
Pronto Freight Ways has 25 diesel-powered Mack MD Series vehicles in its fleet
and 25 heavy-duty vehicles in its fleet, all of which are Mack. Interstate Truck Source in
Romulus, Michigan, will service and support Pronto’s MD Electric.
The MD Electric’s three-phase Permanent Magnet Synchronous motor and all
on-board accessories are powered by Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) Oxide lithiumion batteries, either in a 150kWh or 240kWH configuration. The MD Electric can be
charged through AC or DC charging units. The regenerative braking system helps
recapture energy from the multiple stops the vehicle makes each day.
Developed specifically for medium-duty applications, the Mack MD Electric is
built with the same focus on reliability, durability and productivity customers have come
to expect from a Mack truck. Designed with the heavy-duty quality of its diesel-powered
counterparts, the MD Electric is available in 4x2 configurations featuring a sharp wheel
cut for enhanced maneuverability in tight urban settings.
The MD Series cab design features a short bumper-to-back-of-cab (BBC)
measurement of 103 inches, an industry best. Similar to the diesel-powered Mack MD
Series, Mack matched the bold look and styling of the Mack Anthem®, Mack’s highway
model, as a basis for the MD Electric grille and hood design. The Mack MD Electric will
be supported by Mack dealers, many of which are already Mack Certified Electric
Vehicle (EV) dealers.
The MD Electric will meet the needs of trucking applications requiring dry
van/refrigerated, stake/flatbed and dump vocations. The MD6 model does not require a
Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) to operate for non-hazardous payloads.
For more information, visit
macktrucks.com.