Mack unveils medium-duty electric trucks

Mack Trucks, Greensboro, North Carolina, unveiled its Mack MD Electric, the company’s first electric vehicle (EV) in the medium-duty segment of the trucking industry at the National Truck Equipment Association’s Work Truck Week, running March 6-9 in Indianapolis.

The MD Electric will complement its efficient, diesel-powered MD model, which has experienced growing customer demand since its introduction in 2020. The addition of a zero-tailpipe emissions battery-electric vehicle (BEV) to the company’s medium-duty lineup also supports the company’s long-term sustainability goals.

“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,” Mack Trucks Global President Martin Weissburg says. “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 will be available like its diesel counterpart as Class 6 and 7 models. 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). The Mack MD Electric will be produced at Roanoke Valley Operations (RVO) facility in Roanoke Valley, Virginia, where Mack began production of the Mack MD Series in 2020.

“The Mack MD Electric joins the full lineup of Class 6 to 8 vehicles Mack offers to help customers meet their application needs,” Mack Trucks North America President Jonathan Randall says. “Building on the success of the diesel-powered Mack MD Series, the Mack MD Electric will help our customers meet their sustainability goals without sacrificing the durability, reliability and total cost of ownership for which Mack is known.”

The MD Electric’s three-phase permanent magnet synchronous motor and onboard accessories are powered by nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) oxide lithium-ion batteries, either in a 150 kilowatt hour (kWh) or 240kWH configuration. The MD Electric can be charged through alternating current or direct current charging units. The regenerative braking system helps recapture energy from the multiple stops the vehicle makes each day.

The new trucks are 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 measurement of 103 inches. 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.