INDIANAPOLIS—After a long absence, Mack Trucks re-entered the medium-duty segment in 2020 with the MD Series. Now three years later, at Work Truck Week 2023, the OEM has unveiled an all-electric version called the MD Electric.
This is Mack's second battery-electric model after the LR Electric refuse model, which began production in 2021, and will be available, like its diesel counterpart, in Class 6 and Class 7 ratings. The Class 6 model will have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 25,995 lb., and the Class 7 model has a GVWR of 33,000 lb. Both will be exempt from the 12% federal excise tax and will be produced at Roanoke Valley Operations in Virginia, where Mack began production of the Mack MD Series in 2020.
See also: More NTEA Work Truck Week coverage from Indy
“From a medium-duty standpoint, [the MD Electric] will work in this segment very well,” said Scott Barraclough, Mack’s senior product manager of e-mobility.
The MD Electric will be available in 4x2 configurations, featuring a sharp wheel cut for enhanced maneuverability in tight urban settings, according to the company release. The cab design features a short bumper-to-back-of-cab measurement of 103 inches. Similar to the diesel-powered Mack MD Series, Mack matched the look and styling of the Mack Anthem, Mack’s on-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 dealers.
“Mack established itself as an electrification leader with the heavy-duty Mack LR Electric refuse vehicle, and we’re excited to add the MD Electric to our zero-tailpipe emissions lineup,” said Martin Weissburg, global president of Mack Trucks. “This is another important step in our efforts to drive decarbonization and a more sustainable future, and we plan to continue investing in technologies that help improve the environment and society.”
The Mack MD Electric, which Mack said is aimed at dry van, refrigerated, stake/flatbed, and dump applications, will arrive for pilot customers later this year and the company is targeting to have them in other fleet customers' hands by late this year, company officials said.
According to Mack, the model will come in two range configurations: a 240-kilowatt version that can go up to 230 miles and a 150 kW version with a 140-mile range. The MD Electric’s three-phase permanent magnet synchronous motor and all on-board accessories are powered by nickel manganese cobalt oxide lithium-ion batteries. The regenerative braking system helps recapture energy from the multiple stops the vehicle makes each day.
See also: Mack adds EV charging vendors to its fleet electrification solutions
The MD Electric will have AC and DC fast-charging capability with a standard CCS1 charging connector. It will operate on Meritor axles, and its electric power system will be provided by C-Electric, allowing Mack to speed the new model to market, officials said.
The new Mack medium-duty EV also debuted on the same day as other manufacturers such as Isuzu and startup Workhorse unveiled their own commercial EVs here and at the same time that trucking industry analyst ACT Research forecast that battery-electric truck production would triple this year alone.
