Mack Trucks announced that Miami-Dade County, Florida, purchased a Mack LR® Electric refuse vehicle, the first heavy-duty electric vehicle to be added to its fleet. The Miami-Dade LR Electric is being spotlighted during WasteExpo 2022, May 9-12, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. The Miami-Dade LR Electric vehicle is fitted with a Labrie body. Nextran will service and support the vehicle. “We applaud Miami-Dade County for its efforts to transition a part of its fleet to electric vehicles with the Mack LR Electric truck,” said Jonathan Randall, Mack Trucks senior vice president of sales and commercial operations. “The Mack LR exemplifies Mack’s commitment to sustainable transportation solutions. The LR Electric produces zero emissions and will help Miami-Dade reduce its environmental footprint, while also greatly improving the quietness of refuse collection.”
The LR Electric model will be used in residential route collection for Miami-Dade County, population 2.8 million. Miami-Dade County Department of Solid Waste Management services homes in a 320 square-mile area. “We are extremely excited about adding our very first electric truck to our solid waste collection fleet to help us reduce emissions and reach our climate action goals,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “Miami-Dade County is fully committed to climate action, and this is the perfect example of how we are investing in innovative, energy-efficient alternatives that allow us to continue providing the best service to our residents while also protecting the environment.”
Introduced in March 2022, the next generation Mack LR Electric model offers 42 percent more energy and a standard 376kWh total battery capacity for increased range between charges. Twin electric motors produce 448 continuous horsepower and a 4,051 lb.-ft. of peak torque output from zero RPM. Four NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide) lithium-ion batteries, charged through a 150 kW, SAE J1772-compliant charging system, power the vehicle. They also provide for all onboard accessories through 12V, 24V and 600V circuits. The two-stage regenerative braking system helps recapture energy from the hundreds of stops the LR Electric truck makes each day with an increasing load. A copper-colored Bulldog is featured on the cab of the truck, signifying the all-electric powertrain.
“This is a monumental moment for Miami-Dade and the waste industry because we are using refuse that we collect to power our zero-emissions electric garbage truck,” said Miami-Dade Department of Solid Waste Management Director Michael Fernandez. “Miami-Dade will be a leader in sustainable innovation by using the electricity from the Miami-Dade Resources Recovery Waste-to-Energy facility to power the Mack LR Electric.”
The facility, owned by the Miami-Dade County Department of Solid Waste Management, creates enough electricity from waste collected in the County to supply its own needs, as well as to generate revenue for the county. “The Mack LR Electric vehicle will be powered by the garbage it collects,” said Danny Diaz, director of fleet management for the Miami-Dade County Department of Solid Waste. “We are closely monitoring electric vehicles, and we plan to purchase more – especially when you factor in the savings on fuel and maintenance.”