Mack Trucks dealer Northwest Equipment Sales, based in Boise, Idaho, is now a Certified Electric Vehicle Dealer, making it the first Mack dealer in the Northwest United States to achieve that status.

Northwest Equipment began the process for EV certification in February 2021. Meeting frequently with the Mack team to help them through the stringent requirements and process, the 28,000-square-foot Boise dealership will have four bays available for battery-electric vehicles. These bays can also be used for diesel-powered vehicles when vacant.

“We decided to make our flagship Boise location a Certified EV Dealer in preparation for the move toward electrification,” said Jesse Hibler, dealer principal for Northwest Equipment. “Mack made a difficult process simple, walking us through it step-by-step so that we knew exactly how to accomplish the goal of becoming a Certified EV Dealer.”

TEC Equipment’s Fontana, California-based dealership is also a Certified EV Dealer and was the first Mack dealer to have this designation. To be EV-certified, dealerships must meet numerous safety, charging, infrastructure and training requirements. Updating the facility is also required.

With the certification, Northwest Equipment Sales’ Boise location is now fully equipped and ready to service the Mack LR Electric refuse vehicle.

“Mack Trucks would like to recognize and thank Northwest Equipment Sales for their commitment to electrification and for their support of the Mack LR Electric, Mack’s first fully electric vehicle,” said Jonathan Randall, Mack Trucks senior vice president of sales and commercial operations, in a release. “The investment and certification ensures that Northwest Equipment is ready and able to meet the needs of our customers as we continue to see the adoption of electric vehicles in fleets.”

The LR Electric is equipped with four NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide) lithium-ion batteries, charged by a 150kW, SAE J1772-compliant charging system. The batteries provide vehicle propulsion, as well as power for all onboard accessories driven through 12V, 24V, and 600V electric circuits. To account for the LR Electric vehicle’s increasing load throughout the day, a three-mode regenerative braking system helps recapture the energy from the hundreds of stops the vehicle makes on a daily basis.

The Mack LR Electric may be fitted with equipment bodies from numerous manufacturers based on the unique needs of the customer. The same driver/passenger side driving configurations, as well as seating choices and door options, are offered in the LR Electric as on the diesel-powered Mack LR model. A copper-colored Bulldog hood ornament, signifying the fully electric drivetrain, is featured prominently on the hood. 

“Mack chose to make its first electric vehicle a refuse model because the closed-loop application allows the vehicle to return to home base each day for recharging,” said Scott Barraclough, Mack senior product manager of e-mobility.

Production of the LR Electric will begin this year at the Mack Lehigh Valley Operations facility in Macungie, Pennsylvania, where all Class 8 Mack vehicles for North America and export are assembled.