The City of Kingston, Ontario, Canada, recently spotlighted two Mack LR Electric refuse models it purchased, aligning with its vision of being “Canada’s Most Sustainable City” and furthering its commitment to leading climate action. The Mack LR Electric trucks are Kingston’s first battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) in its solid waste fleet.

“One of the city’s strategic priorities is leading environmental stewardship and climate action, and purchasing these Mack LR Electric trucks is one of the ways we are working toward the achievement of these goals,” said Brent Fowler, City of Kingston director of corporate asset management and fleet.

Funding support from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) enabled the addition of the two Mack LR Electric models to Kingston’s fleet. The Mack LR Electric BEVs have been in service since July 2025, when they were introduced to coincide with the city’s automated cart-based waste collection rollout.

“These vehicles have been in service for nearly a year, operating five days a week,” said Karen Santucci, director of public works and solid waste for Kingston. “Their performance is top-notch, and the reception from both the public and our Solid Waste operators have been overwhelmingly positive.”

The Mack LR Electric side-loaders were sold by Mack dealer Surgenor Truck Group, which also provides service and support for the LR Electric vehicles. The LR Electric bodies were supplied by LaBrie Environmental Group.

“When choosing a vendor for this purchase, we wanted to support local and ensure these vehicles could be maintained right here in Kingston,” Fowler said. “We were pleased to partner with Surgenor, an outstanding Kingston dealer that provides full-maintenance truck service, right down the street from our facilities.”

“Kingston is showing what leadership looks like by pairing an ambitious sustainability vision with real-world investments that make a difference for residents and for the environment,” said George Fotopoulos, Mack vice president of e-mobility. “We’re proud the City of Kingston chose the Mack LR Electric for its first battery-electric refuse trucks and grateful to work alongside Surgenor Truck Group and LaBrie Environmental Group to deliver a solution that’s ready for the daily demands of refuse collection.”

$500k from FCM’s Green Municipal Fund

Kingston was the first municipality in Ontario to have BEVs. Through FCM’s Green Municipal Fund, the city received $500,000 to support the purchase. Kingston has a goal to reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30% by 2030 as part of Kingston’s vision to be Canada’s Most Sustainable City, contributing to a broader national objective for Canada to be net-zero emissions by 2050.

Next-Generation Class 8 Mack LR Electric

The next-generation Class 8 Mack LR Electric refuse model offers a standard 376 kWh total battery capacity for 42% more energy and increased range between vehicle charges compared to the previous generation. Twin electric motors produce 448 continuous horsepower and 4,051 lb.-ft. of peak torque output from zero RPM.

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. The two-stage regenerative braking system helps recapture energy from the hundreds of stops the vehicle makes each day with an increasing load.

The LR Electric is easily recognizable by its copper-colored Bulldog on the cab, denoting the all-electric powertrain. The vehicle offers the same driver- and passenger-side configurations and customization options as the diesel-powered Mack LR model.