Mack Trucks will soon offer an electric version of the innovative long-haul Mack Pioneer to meet its commitment to offering sustainable solutions for all Class 8 trucking segments. The Mack Pioneer will be the first delivery of a completely in-house electric platform utilizing proprietary Mack’s e-axle and Proterra batteries.
Options and features on the Mack Pioneer Electric truck
The Mack Pioneer Electric will be available as a Day Cab or 44-inch Short Sleeper, and is intended for Regional Haul, Drayage, and Hub-and-spoke operations. The zero tailpipe emission version of the Mack Pioneer will be equipped with a new Proprietary Mack e-axle, that incorporates the most recent electric propulsion technologies and will be powered by the latest generation Proterra batteries. Proterra is part of the Volvo Group, with offices in California and South Carolina, and its products are designed, engineered, and assembled in the U.S.
The Proterra H2-23 battery has been tested in-house to ensure the batteries can withstand demanding environments, along with ensuring that the batteries charge quickly. The compact battery pack is designed with advanced active and passive safety features to mitigate risks and ensure on-road performance.
Proterra validates battery packs to stringent standards for safety, performance, and reliability, to meet the needs of the heavy-duty vehicle market. Proterra has experience through multiple generations of battery pack testing and real-world miles. This includes mechanical testing for shock, vibration, crush, and structural aspects; environmental testing for the extreme conditions seen on commercial vehicles, thermal propagation and safety testing, and electrical performance and abuse.
The Pioneer BEV will be based on the diesel-powered Mack Pioneer, the most fuel-efficient truck offered by Mack. Available as a Day Cab or in four sleeper versions, the aerodynamics of the Pioneer combined with engine and transmission upgrades can deliver up to an 11 percent improvement in fuel efficiency compared with the equivalent prior model from Mack.
One of the most notable aerodynamic innovations is the digital mirror system, which provides better vantage points for drivers by eliminating blind spots while improving fuel efficiency. The digital mirror system alone can deliver approximately 1 percent in fuel savings for fleets.
The Mack Pioneer features a steep windshield angle, a streamlined chassis design, and an optional innovative digital mirror system that replaces traditional mirrors with cameras. The design team started with the driver’s position, building everything around the driver, including the windscreen and the door architecture, to ensure both optimal visibility and aerodynamics.
The Mack Pioneer will be the most connected Mack truck to date, featuring a substantial increase in remote diagnostics and over-the-air software update capabilities. The new MyMack smartphone app will enable drivers to remotely check truck status and control lights and HVAC systems.
Mack Trucks maintains a commitment to powerful highway trucks
“Mack designed this truck with driver comfort, safety, connectivity, and aerodynamics in mind,” said Fernando Couceiro, Mack’s vice president of highway trucks. “We built this truck from the ground up, creating a solid structure, off of which the Pioneer BEV will be built.”
“Mack is proud that we not only introduced the Mack Pioneer, our most fuel efficient and aerodynamic highway truck, but just three weeks later we are now also announcing that we will produce a Mack Pioneer battery-electric vehicle,” said Jonathan Randall, president, Mack Trucks North America. “Mack has never rested on its laurels. We are celebrating our 125th anniversary this year, so we have both the legacy of Mack behind us, as well as the historical proven innovation that Mack has contributed to the trucking industry. We are proud to be leaders in sustainable transportation solutions.”
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