One of Largest Nonprofit Recyclers, Eco-Cycle, Orders Mack^® LR Electric as its First BEV

BOULDER, CO (Feb. 10, 2022) – Mack Trucks announced today that Eco-Cycle, one of the largest nonprofit recyclers and Zero Waste organizations in the U.S., recently ordered a Mack^® LR Electric battery electric vehicle (BEV) - the first BEV that Eco-Cycle will add to its fleet.

The announcement was made during an event with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and other state and local officials, Eco-Cycle, Bruckner’s Truck Equipment and Mack representatives at University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) in Boulder, Colorado.

“Mack is extremely pleased that Eco-Cycle chose to order the Mack LR Electric to help them fulfill their commitment to Zero Waste and now Zero Emissions,” said Jonathan Randall, Mack senior vice president of sales and operations. “We congratulate Eco-Cycle for setting a new bar and becoming the nation’s first in the composting industry to operate a battery-electric vehicle.”

Featuring twin electric motors offering 448 continuous horsepower and 4,051 lb.-ft. of peak output torque from zero RPM, the Mack LR Electric is offered with a two-speed Mack Powershift transmission, Mack mRIDE^™ suspension and Mack’s proprietary S462R 46,000-pound rear axles.

Four NMC (Nickle Manganese Cobalt Oxide) lithium-ion batteries, charged through a 150kW, SAE J1772-compliant charging system, provide vehicle propulsion and power for all onboard accessories, driven through 12V, 24V and 600V circuits. The two-stage regenerative braking system accounts for the refuse truck’s increasing load throughout the day and helps recapture energy from the hundreds of stops the vehicle makes each day.

“Eco-Cycle is excited to partner with Mack and their global leadership in our transition to EV collection vehicles, said Suzanne Jones, Eco-Cycle executive director. “Mack has developed not only a cutting-edge EV truck, but their depth of understanding of the challenges of innovation make them an exceptional collaborator. From the extensive testing of the LR Electric, to the collaboration with Bruckner’s, the local dealer, Mack has built a platform that we are certain will enable our collective success.”

Eco-Cycle was established in 1976. Eco-Cycle volunteers brought curbside recycling to Boulder that same year, making the city one of the first 20 in the U.S. to offer curbside recycling. The Mack LR Electric will help Eco-Cycle achieve another “first,” leading the transition toward electric-powered fleets for haulers, particularly in the waste, recycling and composting industry.

“Eco-Cycle is proud to be pioneering the first commercial-scale electric-powered collection truck for compostables to help lead the transition of commercial scale fleet electrification, merging our mission of Zero Waste with that of Zero Emissions for a more climate-resilient future,” Jones said. “This effort is in keeping with Eco-Cycle’s long history of pioneering ‘firsts’ for the recycling, composting and waste industry.”

Eco-Cycle plans for the Mack LR Electric vehicle to travel 15,000 miles each year collecting compostables generated by commercial and residential clients and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emission by 2,500 tons over the vehicle’s lifetime.

The LR Electric is available with Mack GuardDog^® Connect, Mack’s integrated telematics solution. GuardDog Connect monitors battery health and performance and checks for fault codes and defects reported by the battery and electric components of the energy storage system.

When a critical fault code is detected, Mack GuardDog Connect proactively contacts Mack OneCall^™ agents at the Uptime Center in Greensboro, North Carolina. OneCall agents support Mack customers by coordinating repairs and service with the Mack dealer network during planned and unplanned service events. Eco-Cycle will be supported by Bruckner’s Truck and Equipment in Boulder.

“Electric vehicles are the future for commercial trucks as our industry pushes toward zero tailpipe emissions,” said Brian Bruckner, president of Bruckner’s. “Congratulations to Eco-Cycle for leading us forward to a new future of recycling and a new future of green transportation solutions. The future in heavy-duty trucks is now with Bruckner’s and Mack Trucks.”

The LR Electric model may be fitted with equipment bodies from a number of manufacturers, allowing the truck to be tailored to each customer’s unique needs. Customers can choose from the same driver/passenger side driving configurations, seating choices and door options as those offered on the diesel-powered LR model.

Identified by a copper Bulldog ornament on the cab to signify the electric drivetrain, production of the LR Electric began in December 2021 at Lehigh Valley Operations in Macungie, Pennsylvania, where all Mack Class 8 models for North America and export are assembled.

CAPTION: Mack Trucks announced today that Eco-Cycle, one of the largest nonprofit recyclers and Zero Waste organizations in the U.S., recently ordered a Mack^® LR Electric battery electric vehicle (BEV) - the first BEV that Eco-Cycle will add to its fleet.