The town of Cary, North Carolina, recently ordered a Mack LR Electric Class 8 refuse vehicle to reaffirm its commitment to sustainability and its citizens, according to Mack Trucks' news release.

The Mack LR Electric will provide the community with reduced emissions, maintenance, and fuel costs and is expected to be in full operation in the fall of 2023. This order makes Cary the first municipality in North Carolina to order a Mack LR Electric refuse vehicle, according to Mack Trucks.

“Mack congratulates the Town of Cary on their pursuit of sustainable operations and is proud that they have chosen to purchase and deploy a Mack LR Electric to help achieve their goals,” said Jonathan Randall, Mack Trucks SVP of sales and commercial operations. “We look forward to continuing our commitment to developing sustainable transportation solutions with Cary and our other customers, as well as helping them fulfill their environmental goals.”

Cary, population 180,000, chose the Mack LR Electric as the first battery-electric vehicle (BEV) in its refuse fleet in recognition of Mack’s history of producing refuse vehicles to meet the demands and requirements of customers, according to the news release.

“The Mack LR Electric truck is our latest step toward creating a sustainable and resilient Cary,” said Danna Widmar, assistant town manager. “Cary prioritizes managing, preserving, and enhancing our natural environment to support a high quality of life, so we’re looking forward to seeing how this addition to our electric fleet contributes to our emissions reduction objectives.”

Launched in March 2022, Mack Trucks said the next generation Mack LR Electric offers a standard 376 kWh total battery capacity for 42% more energy and increased range between vehicle charges.

Four NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide) lithium-ion batteries, charged through a 150 kW, SAE J1772-compliant charging system, power the vehicle and all onboard accessories through 12V, 24V, and 600V circuits.

Mack Trucks added the LR Electric can be fitted with bodies from various manufacturers to meet each customer’s set of needs.

Cary’s LR Electric vehicle will be equipped with an automated side-loader and will operate in residential areas. Cary currently serves about 54,000 customers.