Mack Trucks recently began production of its second battery-electric vehicle (BEV), the Mack MD Electric, and delivered units to several customers including ABF Freight, DC Logistics, Mission Linen and Pronto Freight Ways to begin operations and testing. Mack announced this at the NTEA – Work Truck Association’s Work Truck Week 2024, March 5-8, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.
“We’re thrilled that the Mack MD Electric is in full production and that customers are beginning to take delivery of the trucks,” Jonathan Randall, president of Mack Trucks North America, said. “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.”
During Work Truck Week 2023, 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% Federal Excise Tax (FET).
ABF’s Mack MD Electric will operate in Oakland, California, and will do pick up and delivery at various customer locations. TEC Equipment in Oakland will service and support the Mack MD Electric for ABF.
DC Logistics is operating its MD Electric in the Inland Empire, Los Angeles and Orange County, California. The company said it 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.
According to Ryan Severson, general manager of Western Truck Centers, a Mission Linen’s dealer, Mission Linen is piloting the Mack MD Electric because it would like to be a sustainability leader in Northern California. 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.
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. 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.
Mack said the MD Electric’s three-phase Permanent Magnet Synchronous motor and all onboard accessories are powered by Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) Oxide lithium-ion batteries, either in a 150kWh or 240kWH configuration. The MD Electric can be charged through AC or DC charging units.
Developed specifically for medium-duty applications, Mack said its MD Electric is designed with the heavy-duty quality of its diesel-powered counterparts and is available in 4×2 configurations.
Mack said 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.
