Mack To Evaluate Wrightspeed Powertrain In Refuse Truck

Mack Trucks is showcasing a Mack LR refuse truck retrofitted with the Wrightspeed Route 1000 powertrain at the WasteExpo show. Mack said it is the first OEM to evaluate Wrightspeed technology within a Class 8 refuse vehicle.

Designed as an alternative driveline, the Wrightspeed Route is a range-extended electric vehicle powertrain designed to reduce fuel consumption and vehicle maintenance costs. It uses electricity to deliver 100% of the vehicle’s propulsion and incorporates an advanced plug-in-capable battery pack that enables a purely electric range of up to 24 miles. When the batteries are depleted, an 80 kW, fuel agnostic Fulcrum turbine generator, which can operate on natural gas or diesel fuel, recharges the batteries, enabling Route-equipped vehicles to have unlimited range with refueling.

Additional recharging comes from the Route system’s 730 kW regenerative braking technology that also significantly decreases service brake wear, the company said. Electricity from the battery pack powers four Geared Traction Drive (GTD) electric motors, which Wrightspeed said enables the powertrain to drive vehicles up to 66,000 lb. on grades as steep as 40%. With full torque available from zero rpm, the Route provides a driving experience comparable to diesel-powered trucks, Wrightspeed said.

“Mack is the refuse industry leader because we’re constantly seeking to pioneer new ideas and innovations,” said Dennis Slagle, president of Mack Trucks. “It’s something we’ve done throughout our 116-year history, and it’s something we will continue to do. Wrightspeed shares this pioneering spirit, which is why we’re eager to evaluate their Route powertrain technology.”