The City of Mobile, Alabama, recently ordered a Mack LR Electric Class 8 refuse vehicle, the city’s first electric vehicle to operate in its fleet of 26 refuse trucks. Mobile has a population of 187,000 (as of the 2020 Census) and received funds from the Volkswagen lawsuit settlement which enabled the purchase of the LR Electric vehicle.
Four NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide) lithium-ion batteries, charged through a 150 kW, SAE J1772-compliant charging system, power the Mack LR Electric model and all onboard accessories through 12V, 24V and 600V circuits. Twin electric motors produce 448 continuous horsepower and 4,051 lb.-ft. of peak torque output from 0 RPM. The two-stage regenerative braking system helps recapture energy from the hundreds of stops the vehicle makes each day with an increasing load.
The City of Mobile’s Mack LR Electric will be equipped with an automated side-loader and will operate in residential areas. Mobile is also investing in a portable DC charger. The city said a portable charging station will enable the city to test different locations and serve as backup support once permanent charging stations are chosen and installed.
