The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) received the Calstart Blue Sky Award for its greenhouse gas reduction goals, part of which will be attained using the Mack LR Electric model for refuse pickup.

The Blue Sky Award recognizes outstanding market contributions to advanced sustainable transportation that cleans the air, improves energy efficiency and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

"Mack congratulates DSNY on its recognition by Calstart for its emobility efforts and for its consistent plans to implement new technologies to help reduce emissions," said Jonathan Randall, Mack Trucks senior vice president of sales and commercial operations. "We are proud that the Mack LR Electric will help them achieve their ambitious goals."

DSNY accepted the keys to the Mack LR Electric demonstration model in September, when it began rigorous real-world testing in New York City, the world's largest municipal sanitation department with more than 6,000 vehicles collecting 12,000 tons of refuse and recyclables each day.

Calstart is a nonprofit organization working nationally and internationally with businessees and governments to develop clean, efficient transportation solutions. Calstart provides services and consulting to spur advanced transportation technologies, fuels, systems and the companies that make them.  

"We fully intend to work toward reducing GHG emissions by 80% by the year 2035," said Rocco DiRico, deputy commissioner for Support Services at the New York City Department of Sanitation. "One way in which we hope to accomplish this is by testing the fully electric 72,000-pound Mack LR Electric rear loader in the DSNY fleet. With the support of Acting Commissioner Edward Grayson and the men and women of DSNY, we aim to lead the country in its quest for a carbon-free fleet."

The Mack LR Electric demonstration model, featuring a copper-colored Bulldog hood ornament, will be based out of the DSNY Brooklyn North 1 garage, where in-service trials will be conducted on local collection routes, evaluating operating range, payload capacity, regenerative braking and overall functionality of the electric refuse vehicle in their operations.

Mack recently announced it would begin commercialization in the first quarter of 2021 of the Mack LR Electric model at Lehigh Valley Operations in Macungie, Pennsylvania, where all Mack's Class 8 models for North America and refuse are assembled.

DSNY's Mack LR Electric demonstrator model is equipped with two 167-kW motors, offering a combined 536 peak horsepower and 4,051 lb.-ft. of torque available from zero RPM. The vehicle features a two-speed Mack Powershift transmission and Mack proprietary S522R 52,000-lb. rear axles. The Mack LR Electric model is powered by four NMC lithium-ion batteries (Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide) that are charged via a 150kW, SAE J1772-compliant charging system. All accessories on the Mack LR Electric model, including the hydraulic system for the Heil Durapack 5000 refuse body, are electrically driven through 12V, 24V and 600V circuits.