Mack’s Electric Truck Could Be a Fleet Game-Changer

• Mack Trucks has revealed its first electric model in the medium-duty segment, with the MD Electric positioned as an alternative to its diesel-powered version.

• The Mack MD Electric will be offered with a choice of two battery options, 150-kWh or 240-kWh, giving it a range of 140 to 230 miles.

• Several truck makers, including Isuzu and Hino, are about to begin producing medium-duty electric trucks as demand from fleets rises.

Mack Trucks took the wraps off its first medium-duty electric truck, engineered as a companion to its diesel MD model sibling. The MD Electric will be the truck maker's second overall EV offering, following the debut of the Mack LR Electric garbage truck in 2021.

The MD Electric will be offered with a choice of two nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) lithium-ion batteries, in 150- or 240-kWh capacities, powering a single motor out back good for 260 hp and 1850 lb-ft of torque. And just like passenger EVs, it will feature regenerative braking.

The smaller battery will give the truck a range of 140 miles, while the larger pack will enable it to cover about 230 miles, making both models quite suitable for regional trucking and local deliveries. That's because medium-duty fleet trucks usually have a set route, making mileage easy to plan, and they can recharge at night at their home bases with their own infrastructure. In the case of the MD Electric, it will offer AC and DC charging, with the 240-kWh option estimated to take just a little under three hours to recharge.

"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," said Jonathan Randall, president of Mack Trucks North America.