Daimler Trucks establishes its global e-mobility group as it presents two new fully-electric trucks to leading U.S. brand, Freightliner. Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) is aiming to hand over an innovative fleet of around 30 electric trucks to its customers in the U.S. over course of 2018.
Already the case for Freightliner's fully-electric FUSO eCanter light truck and the medium Mercedes-Benz eActros, it is the company's objective to gain experience in eTrucks by working together with customers to establish how electric trucks can be efficiently deployed in day-to-day transport operations.
With the two current e-trucks from Freightliner, the Mercedes-Benz eActros, the FUSO eCanter, the fully-electric Mercedes-Benz Citaro city bus and the Thomas Built Saf-T Liner C2 Jouley school bus, Daimler Trucks & Buses already has the broadest portfolio of fully-electric commercial vehicles to be found anywhere.
Martin Daum, member of the Daimler Board of Management for Trucks and Buses, stated: “We are the undisputed global leader of the trucking industry and we intend to remain in that position with electric trucks and buses. We were first-movers on electric trucks and strive to set the standard in each relevant segment. With the formation of our new global E-Mobility Group, we will maximize the impact of our investments in this key strategic technology. Thus, we can pursue the best solutions in batteries, charging solutions and energy management.”
The new E-Mobility Group unit will consolidate the worldwide know-how of Daimler Trucks for electric drive systems
Daimler Trucks & Buses views electric mobility as an innovative drive in the commercial automotive industry and as a decisive factor for leading the transport sector into an emission-free future. In doing so, the following objective applies: e-mobility must be cost-effective – both for the customer and for the manufacturer.
Steering forward, the E-Mobility Group (EMG) will (across all brands and divisions) define the strategy for electric components, complete electric vehicles, and develop a standardised, global electric architecture similar to Daimler Truck’s global platform strategy for conventional engines and drive components. EMG is set up globally with employees working in a variety of locations throughout the company's worldwide development network, i.e. in Portland (U.S.), Stuttgart (Germany) and Kawasaki (Japan). Effective from July 1st, Gesa Reimelt, who is currently head of Product Projects Powertrain & eDrive Mercedes-Benz passenger cars, will become head of this globally engaged and cross-divisional organisation. In this function, she will report to Dr. Frank Reintjes, head of Global Powertrain and Manufacturing Engineering at Daimler Trucks.
“We expect increasing demand for electric trucks and buses, and are also receiving these signals from our customers. Only manufacturers who lead the field in both conventional drive systems and electric drive systems are able to offer convincing solutions, technically and business-wise. With regard to conventional powertrains, we have always benefited from our worldwide platform strategy. We will also be taking this approach for electric drive systems in the future. To this end, we are establishing the E-Mobility Group in which our experts from all functions around the world will work together on the best e-systems”, said Frank Reintjes, member of the Divisional Board of Management, Daimler Trucks & Buses responsible for Global Powertrain and Manufacturing Engineering.
Based on the Cascadia, the Freightliner eCascadia is the most successful heavy-duty long-distance truck (class 8) in the North American market. 730 hp is nearly all silently generated under the characteristically long, U.S.-style hood. At 550 kWh, its batteries provide enough energy for a range of up to 400 km (250 miles), and can be recharged to around 80 percent within 90 minutes to cover a further 320 km (200 miles).
Intended for local distribution operations and last-mile delivery services, the Freightliner eM2 106 batteries for the new electric version provide 325 KWh for up to 480 hp. The range of the eM2 is around 370 km (230 miles). The batteries can be recharged to around 80 percent within 60 minutes, sufficient for a range of around 300 km (184 miles).
Frank Reintjes added, “With our trucks and buses we want to make our customers more succesful. This applies to both electric trucks and conventional powertrains. Hence, we designed the Freightliner eCascadia and the eM2 here in the U.S., according to the specific requirements of our customers. As the undisputed market leader in North America, we know that only trucks and buses that fully meet the needs of transport operators will prevail in the market.”
Before the end of 2018, a total of around 30 units of these models will go to its initial customers in North America. With this innovation fleet, DTNA is working with transport companies in day-to-day operations to find out more about transport assignments for emission-free trucks, in order to respond to customer needs even better in the further development of electric drive systems.