Mack Trucks has taken the wraps off the industry’s first fully-electric refuse truck to be put into service, a Mack LR Electric, which will soon be deployed by the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY).

The truck was demonstrated Jan. 9 at the Mack Customer Center in Allentown, Pa., to a group of truck editors and DSNY representatives. Jonathan Randall, senior vice-president of North American sales and marketing, said DSNY – the world’s largest sanitation department – is the ideal fleet to put the truck through its paces.

DSNY is on a mission to become carbon-neutral by 2050, and to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2035.

“We can’t do it without this electric truck,” said Rocky DiRico, deputy commissioner of the NYC Sanitation Department. The fleet runs 2,346 collection trucks, 99% of which are Macks. It collects about 12,000 tons of residential and industrial waste every day.

The truck is expected to handle an eight-hour collection route, at which time its remaining battery capacity will be analyzed. Uniquely, New York City uses its collection trucks to plow residential streets.

In addition to reduced emissions, other benefits of electric refuse trucks include reduced noise and lower maintenance costs.

The electric LR features two AC motors and produces 496 peak hp and 4,051 lb.-ft. of torque. The truck is equipped with a Heil 25-yard capacity DuraPack 5000 rear loader. The LR being delivered to DSNY features a two-speed Mack Powershift transmission and Mack axles. But instead of being adorned with a gold bulldog on the front to signify a vertically integrated vehicle, this truck’s bulldog is copper-colored to denote its fully-electric powertrain.

When the electric LR is put into service, DSNY will be closely monitoring several metrics, including: uptime; range; miles; driver feedback; acceleration; payload; regenerative braking; gradeability; state of charge at start and end of route; charging time and duration; and overall functionality.