AUSTRALIAN-born electric mobility company SEA Electric has, in a five-year deal, become a Tier 1 partner with Mack Trucks to supply its EV drivetrain for Mack’s MD range.

The deal is the second this week, with SEA also expanding its relationship with Hino to add fitment of its electric drivetrain to Hino’s M and L Series trucks. It already has a supply agreement that includes the sale of SEA Electric branded class 5 trucks.

The agreement with Mack’s next generation of MD trucks is expected to lead to the deliveries of the fully electrified models to Mack dealers across North America.

In a statement, SEA Electric said that the Class 6 and 7 Mack MD6 and MD7 models will be equipped with the SEA-Drive 120 and 180 power-systems “which lead the market in terms of performance, efficiency and total cost of ownership.”

It said the power unit has an upgradable and flexible architecture and can be adapted to a range of applications, fully electrifying all ancillary features, with charging completed via the integrated onboard system.

SEA Electric CEO and founder Tony Fairweather said: “This is a proud day for SEA Electric, and the culmination of over a decade of leading research and development that has proven the SEA-Drive power-system around the world.”

“In testing, the SEA-Drive equipped Mack MD6 successfully completed a gruelling durability assessment, equivalent to more than 500,000 miles (800,000km) on one of the toughest and most challenging tracks.

“We are proud to partner with a brand as iconic as Mack Trucks to help them achieve market leadership in the Class 6 and 7 zero-emissions segment.

“In the future, this agreement has the potential to see significant scale, which is very exciting for the industry as it transitions to a sustainable future.”

Mack Trucks global president Martin Weissburg said the agreement represents another important step in its efforts to drive decarbonization and a more sustainable future.

Details of SEA’s expanded agreement with Hino will be published over the coming months but the company said it relates to SEA’s 120a power-system that was part of Project Z, Hino Trucks’ first advancement into zero-emission vehicles in the medium-duty space.

Hino said the addition would expand its EV range in a growing market.

Hino Trucks president Glenn Ellis said the addition would allow it to offer electric drive as an option for all its markets.

The SEA-powered Hino Trucks M5e and L6e models recently featured at Work Truck Week, in Indianapolis, Indiana, with the M5e made available for sampling in the Ride and Drive activity.

By Neil Dowling