Volvo Construction Equipment and Mack Trucks, both Volvo Group companies, recently delivered on- and off-road electric equipment to Florida-based Coastal Waste & Recycling. The company, based in Boca Raton, Florida, is piloting a 23-ton EC230 Electric excavator from Volvo CE and took delivery of a Mack LR Electric Class 8 refuse vehicle that will operate in residential and certain specialized commercial applications in southern Florida.

The excavator will work at a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) north of Miami, where Coastal receives and sorts recyclable materials. The EC230 Electric is performing the same work as its equivalent diesel model the EC220EL, feeding material into a sorting line.

Both fully electric machines represent the latest evolution of electrifying larger vehicles and building a mixed fleet to suit the company and application. The EC230 Electric is a medium-sized excavator designed to offer the same performance as its diesel counterpart, while the LR Electric is a heavy-duty truck with all the strength of comparable diesel-powered Mack LR refuse models.

The big difference between the electric and diesel excavators is zero emissions, but also its significantly lower noise and vibration levels. Operators can feel instant torque from the electric motor instead of the slight delay with diesel.

The EC230 Electric is estimated to achieve a 60% to 70% reduction in energy running costs compared with the EC220. Not having an engine also greatly simplifies maintenance.

The EC230 Electric and the Mack LR Electric will be fast-charged with the same mobile Heliox 50 kW charger provided by Volvo CE. Volvo CE and Mack experts consulted with Coastal Waste on charging to help identify the ideal solution.

The EC230 Electric has been in testing with other companies in North America over the past year. It’s expected to be commercially available later in 2024.

The Mack LR Electric will operate in residential and certain specialized commercial applications. Mack and Coastal Waste & Recycling worked together to develop favorable routing for the LR Electric to ensure that the refuse truck will complete a full day’s work based on the application needs. The LR Electric is equipped with an automated side loader.

The next generation Mack LR Electric offers a standard 376 kWh 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.