Daimler has announced the two first US customers to operate Freightliner e-vehicles within their fleet: 30 Freightliner eCascadia and eM2 trucks will be handed over to Penske Truck Leasing and NFI Industries in the US.
It is working with the customers on route planning, development of charging infrastructure and vehicle service support.
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The newly founded e-mobility group will use 10 Freightliner e-trucks for research and development purposes to gain further knowledge about them in the US. Daimler Trucks North America plans to start series production in 2021.
“Working together with Penske Truck Leasing Corporation and NFI Industries allows us to start with an important phase of the further development of electrified trucks. We call this Co-Creation: Together with our customers, we are working on the best solutions for the usage of e-trucks. As global market leader, we also want to lead in the field of e-trucks. In Penske and NFI, we found innovative partners with whom we take on the challenge together,” said trucks and buses chief Martin Daum.
Penske Truck Leasing Corporation operates 270.000 vehicles for customers from 1,000 locations in North America, South America, Europe, Australia and Asia. It will get 10 eCascadia heavy duty trucks for regional delivery and 10 medium duty eM2 for local operations in the Northwest Pacific and in California.
“Penske is committed to bringing the most effective commercial vehicle technologies to our customers,” said Brian Hard, president and CEO.
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By GlobalData“We have had a long, collaborative relationship working with Daimler and its Freightliner brand. We are encouraged by the progress Daimler has made with their electric vehicle platforms for heavy duty and medium duty applications. We look forward to our continued cooperation and co-creation on these electric vehicles as we operate them within our expansive logistics, truck leasing and rental fleets.”
Logistics specialist NFI Industries has a fleet of 4,000 tractors and 8,900 trailers in North America. Ten eCascadias will be delivered to NFI for drayage activities from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to warehouses in California’s Inland Empire (Riverside) metro region.
The eCascadia is based on the Cascadia, a heavy-duty, long-distance truck (class 8, 80,000lb gross combined weight rating (GCWR) in North America. At start of series production, the eCascadia will have up to 730 peak horsepower. The batteries provide 550Kwh usable capacity, a range of up to 250 miles and have the ability to charge up to 80% (providing a range of 200 miles) in about 90 minutes. The Class 8 tractor is designed for local and regional distribution and drayage.
The eM2 is intended for local distribution operations and last-mile delivery services (class 6, 26,000lb GCWR). It will initially have up to 480 peak horsepower. The batteries provide 325 Kwh of usable capacity, a range of up to 230 miles and have the ability to charge up to 80% (range of 184 miles) in about 60 minutes.
