Mack Announces Electric Pioneer Class 8 Truck – Fuel Smarts

Still glowing from the launch of its new Pioneer Class 8 tractor earlier in April, Mack Trucks built on that news with additional product launches at ACT Expo in Anaheim, California, on April 29.

At a press conference on the show floor, Mack President Jonathan Randall announced two new MP13 engine variants and an all-new EV Pioneer model.

CARB-Compliant Engines

Randall said Mack is currently seeking certification of two new variants of the Mack MP13 engine. He said the OEM expects will meet the California Air Resources Board (CARB) 2024 Omnibus requirements for low nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions standards.

The regulation requires a 75% reduction in NOx and 50% reduction in PM compared with existing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards for engines in Class 8 highway trucks for engine model years 2024 through 2026. 

Once certified, the new MP13 CARB 2024 Omnibus-compliant engines, rated 425 horsepower and 1,750 lb.-ft. of torque or 455 horsepower and 1,850 lb.-ft. of torque, will be available in the recently launched Mack Pioneer.

“Mack will have a 13-liter engine that will be CARB 2024 Omnibus-compliant once certified, allowing Mack customers in California to have a fuel-efficient and more sustainable diesel engine to meet all of their highway application needs,” Randall noted. 

“At the same time that Mack is working to ensure its diesel customers have a durable, reliable highway truck, we also continue to invest and investigate other sustainable solutions, such as battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell power.”

A new 10kW heater was integrated into the exhaust aftertreatment system, as well as an additional battery box to support it. 

Both Mack MP13 engine variants feature the following engine-mounted components:

• A 48-volt alternator, required to support the heated exhaust aftertreatment system and new battery components.
• Specialized engine tuning software to support low NOx requirements.

Once certified, the two variants of the Mack MP13 CARB 24-compliant engine will be available to order on Mack Pioneer models. Mack expects that the certification process will be completed by the end of 2025. 

An Electric Pioneer

Mack also announced it will soon offer an electric version of the Mack Pioneer.

According to Randall, the new EV truck will be the first delivery of a completely in-house electric platform using Mack’s proprietary e-axle and Proterra batteries.

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.

“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 (BEV),” Randall said. 

The Mack Pioneer Electric is designed for regional haul, drayage, hub-and-spoke operations. It will be available as a day cab or 44-inch short sleeper. 

Proterra Power for the Electric Mack Pioneer

The electric Pioneer 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.

According to Fernando Couceiro, Mack vice president of highway trucks, the Proterra H2-23 battery has been rigorously tested in-house to ensure the batteries can withstand the most demanding of 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 optimal on-road performance. 

Couceiro said 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, Couceiro added.

This includes mechanical testing for shock, vibration, crush and structural aspects; environmental testing to the extreme conditions seen on commercial vehicles, thermal propagation and safety testing, and electrical performance and abuse. 

Proterra’s team also works with the Mack vehicle team to validate the battery pack’s reliability and performance in their extensive vehicle testing, including extreme conditions, durability, and reliability. 

“Mack designed this truck with driver comfort, safety, connectivity and aerodynamics in mind,” Couceiro added. “We built this truck from the ground up, creating a solid structure, off of which the Pioneer BEV will be built.”