Mack Trucks on July 18 displayed at the inaugural SMART Green Showcase in Frederick, Md., a heavy-duty truck equipped with hybrid technology. The Mack TerraPro Low Entry refuse truck was built under contract for the U.S. Air Force and will be placed into operation later this year in Macon, Ga. This is the fifth hybrid Mack has built for USAF; others are in operation around the country.
“Fuel economy improvements of 30 percent to 50 percent are achievable in refuse operations like the one this truck is built to handle,” says Dennis Slagle, Mack President and chief executive officer.
The Mack hybrid electric powertrain features an integrated starter, alternator and motor referred to collectively as an electric machine. The electric machine assists the TerraPro’s Mack MP7 diesel engine in providing torque to the wheels and regenerates energy during braking. The energy captured during braking (stored as electricity in lithium ion batteries) is then used in place of diesel fuel and helps launch the truck from stops.
The SMART Green Showcase was hosted by the SMART Organization (Strengthening the Mid-Atlantic Region for Tomorrow), in conjunction with Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, MD, co-leader of the SMART Congressional Caucus.
