Logistics and LTL shipping providers PITT OHIO are adding four Mack MD Electric trucks to their Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, locations.

With the addition of the new Mack MD Electrics, PITT OHIO will have 10 BEVs – a small portion of its fleet of 930 Class 8 tractors and 475 Class 7 trucks (the majority of which are Mack/Volvo).

“Mack Trucks is proud to support PITT OHIO in its efforts to reduce emissions,” said Jonathan Randall, president of Mack Trucks North America. “We look forward to continuing to collaborate with PITT OHIO and our other battery electric vehicle (BEV) customers as they navigate the sustainability journey by providing a total ecosystem of support.”

Despite BEVs making up just 1%(ish) of the fleet, the company plans to make up a larger share of the total asset pie. As evidence, PITT OHIO is adding DC fast charging to its Harrisburg terminal in an effort to support the increased electrification of the fleet there. That project is expected to be completed in Q1 2025.

“We believe this order will really boost our electrification business, and we really let the technology come to us instead of forcing it,” said Taki Darakos, vice president of vehicle maintenance and fleet services at PITT OHIO. “We believe the Mack MD Electric vehicles will provide the best range and payload from a value standpoint. We’re excited that the current capabilities can match 85 percent of our conventional truck fleet in terms of range and payload.”

The Mack MD Electric trucks come with an all-electric drive motor that produces 260 horsepower and 1,850 lb-ft of torque. Power comes from a 240 kWh SEA Electric battery pack and 80 kW DC fast charging that charges the battery from less than 20-80% in just one hour.

PITT OHIO paid for the trucks in part with grants from the state of Pennsylvania as part of their all-vehicle MD HD ZEV Fleet Demonstration Project.

Electrek’s Opinion

The “Mack-ification” of the MD market continues as more and more of the near-semi market adopts the Mack Class 6 and 7 model, adopting a “big truck cab” and giving drivers the same “big truck feel” as the Class 8s — something we talked about on The Heavy Equipment Podcast a few weeks ago. So check that out if you’re curious about the MD market as a whole, and let us know what you think of this new big Mack.

SOURCE | IMAGES: Mack Trucks, the truck driver.