Delaware waste trucks to push power back into the grid

Image courtesy Mack Trucks

US-based Evergreen Waste Services has taken delivery of the first of five ordered Mack LR Electric models, planning to use bi-directional charging when available during off-peak hours and push power back to the power grid during peak hours.

According to the company in a release, the announcement marks the battery-electric vehicle (BEV) as the first fully electric Class 8 refuse vehicle in operation in the State of Delaware.

The LR Electric, equipped with a rear loader McNeilus 25-yard body, will operate in a residential area of New Castle County, Delaware. The LR Electric is planned to make 600 pick-ups and travel about 40 miles each day.

Said Marcus Stevens, CEO of Evergreen Waste Services, said in a statement that Evergreen was awarded grant money through the Delaware Mitigation Plan.

According to Stevens, the company planned to add EVs to its fleet whether or not they received funding, but the grant allowed them to purchase four more LR Electric vehicles to add to its fleet of 50 vehicles. All Class 8 refuse vehicles in the Evergreen Waste fleet are Mack trucks.

Evergreen Waste has two charging stations at its site, with three additional charging units to be installed later. Evergreen ordered five charging stations to accommodate the five LR Electric vehicles so all can be charged at the same time.

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The next generation Mack LR Electric offers a standard 376kWh total battery capacity for 42% more energy and increased range between vehicle charges.

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.

“We are one of the first to do vehicle-to-grid,” Stevens said. “We will bring the LR Electric back to our site with about 40% less battery life than when it left. We will then send power back to the grid during peak hours, and then we will charge the vehicle during the off-peak hours of 11pm to 4am. The vehicle will be fully charged and ready to go by 5am.

“The LR Electric purchase will be a homerun if the vehicle can handle 600 stops and go back to the yard because it significantly allows us to save money on diesel and maintenance needs.

“It will be a grand slam if we discharge energy back to the grid and receive a credit back. That makes this really attractive.”