Mack Trucks has announced the launch of Mack MD Electric, the company’s first electric vehicle in the medium-duty segment of the trucking industry. Mack revealed the truck for the first time during an event at the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) 2023 Work Truck Show, March 6-9 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.
The medium-duty electric truck is available for order. Customers interested in ordering the Mack MD Electric should contact their local Mack dealer.
“Mack is excited that customers can now order the Mack MD Electric,” said Jonathan Randall, president of Mack Trucks North America. “Mack is committed to moving toward a more sustainable decarbonized future, and the MD Electric is just another step in our journey. Since we introduced the MD Electric in March, we’ve received overwhelming customer response and interest, so we’re happy that customers can now place their orders.”
The MD Electric complements its diesel-powered MD model sibling. The addition of a zero-tailpipe emissions, battery-electric vehicle (BEV) to the Mack 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,” 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 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 will be 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-lbs., and the Class 7 model has a GVWR of 33,000-lbs. Both models are exempt from the 12 percent Federal Excise Tax (FET). The Mack MD Electric will be produced at Roanoke Valley Operations (RVO) 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,” said Jonathan Randall, president of Mack Trucks North America. “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 all on-board accessories are powered by Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) Oxide lithium-ion batteries, either in a 150 kWh or 240 kWH configuration. The MD Electric can be charged through AC or DC charging units. The regenerative braking system helps recapture energy from multiple stops the vehicle makes each day.
Designed with the heavy-duty quality of its diesel-powered counterparts, the MD Electric is available in 4x2 configurations featuring a sharp wheel cut for maneuverability in tight urban settings.
The MD Series cab design features a short bumper-to-back-of-cab (BBC) measurement of 103-in. Similar to the diesel-powered Mack MD Series, Mack matched the look and styling of the Mack Anthem, Mack’s highway model, as a basis for the MD Electric grill and hood design. 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 or refrigerated, stake or flatbed and dump vocations. The MD6 model does not require a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) to operate for non-hazardous payloads.
*Updated on June 29, 2023
