Mack Evaluates Wrightspeed’s Electric Powertrain
Mack Trucks said it showcased its heavy-duty LR model retrofitted with the Wrightspeed Route 1000 range-extended electric vehicle powertrain at WasteExpo 2016 in Las Vegas earlier this month.
Mack, a unit of the Volvo Group, said it is the first truck manufacturer to evaluate Wrightspeed technology on a Class 8 refuse vehicle. The powertrain uses electricity to deliver 100% of the vehicle’s propulsion.
The system features an advanced plug-in-capable battery pack that enables a purely electric range of up to 24 miles. When the batteries’ charge is depleted, a generator that can operate on natural gas or diesel fuel recharges the batteries, enabling Route-equipped vehicles to have unlimited range with refueling, Mack said.
Additional recharging comes from a regenerative braking system, which Greensboro, North Carolina-based Mack also said decreases braking force and subsequent brake wear, saving on maintenance.
“Mack is the refuse industry leader because we’re constantly seeking to pioneer new ideas and innovations,” Dennis Slagle, president of Mack Trucks, said in a statement. “It’s something we’ve done throughout our 116-year history, and it’s something we will continue to do. Wrightspeed shares this pioneering spirit, which is why we’re eager to evaluate their Route powertrain technology.”
