Pitt Ohio recently ordered four Mack MD Electric models for regional deliveries in both Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mack announced in late June.
“Mack Trucks is proud to support Pitt Ohio in its emissions reduction efforts,” said Jonathan Randall, president of Mack Trucks North America. “We look forward to continuing to work with Pitt Ohio and our other battery-electric vehicle (BEV) customers as they navigate the sustainability journey by offering a total ecosystem of support.”
See also: Mack Trucks' new CARB qualifications, certified dealerships | Fleet Maintenance
Based in Pittsburgh, Pitt Ohio offers LTL and Supply Chain Services in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S. Once the MD Electric models are added to its fleet, Pitt Ohio will have 10 BEVs.
The fleet currently has 930 diesel-powered Class 8 tractors, the majority of which are Mack, and 475 Class 7 straight trucks. Their Harrisburg terminal is currently being upgraded to include the proper infrastructure to support a partial site electrification of the fleet, and is expected to be completed in early 2025. Pitt Ohio acquired grants through the state of Pennsylvania as part of their MD HD ZEV Fleet Demonstration Project for all of the vehicles.
“We have a long-standing partnership with Mack on the conventional vehicle side,” said Taki Darakos, Pitt Ohio vice president, vehicle maintenance and fleet services. “We had anxiously been anticipating the work they did as it pertained to electrification. Our early steps in electrification came out of our relationship with Mack.”
See more: Pitt Ohio pays school back with a Mack | Fleet Maintenance
Developed specifically for medium-duty applications, the Mack MD Electric is built with the same focus on reliability, durability and productivity customers have come to expect from a Mack truck. Designed with the heavy-duty quality of its diesel-powered counterparts, the MD Electric is available in 4x2 configurations featuring a sharp wheel cut for enhanced maneuverability in tight urban settings.
Produced at the Mack Roanoke Valley Operations facility in Salem, Virginia, the Mack MD Electric can be configured as a Class 6 or Class 7 vehicle. The Class 6 model has a GVWR of 25,995 lbs., and the Class 7 model has a GVWR of 33,000 lbs. Both models are exempt from the 12% Federal Excise Tax (FET).
“We believe that this order will help jump-start our electrification activities, and we’ve really allowed the technology to come to us rather than force it,” Darakos said. “We believe the Mack MD Electric vehicles will provide the best range and payload from a value standpoint. We are excited that the current capabilities should be able to mimic 85% of our conventional box truck fleet in terms of range and payload.”
Pitt Ohio’s Mack MD Electric vehicles will be serviced and supported by TransEdge Truck Centers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
