Heavy trucks go all-electric in USA

Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) has delivered the first two Class Eight (80,000 lb GVW) Freightliner eCascadia trucks to customers for operational trials.

The trucks, which are part of Freightliner’s Electric Innovation Fleet, are for service with operators Penske Truck Leasing and NFI. Penske will use its truck for daily multi-drop operations to retail outlets on a fixed route, while NFI will use its eCascadia for drayage in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The two operators are set to receive 30 eCascadias in total.

The Electrical Innovation Fleet is joint-funded by DTNA and the South Coast Air Quality Management District, with SCAQMD contributing a grant of nearly $16 million. The Innovation Fleet also includes Freightliner eM2 electric medium-duty distribution trucks.

Freightliner plans to start series production of the eCascadia and eM2 in late 2021.

DTNA parent Daimler Trucks & Buses and battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited (CATL) of China have entered into a global battery cell modules supply agreement for electric production trucks.

CATL will supply lithium-ion battery cell modules for a range of Daimler Trucks & Buses’ global electric truck portfolio to be introduced from 2021 onwards. The trucks include the Mercedes-Benz eActros, the Freightliner eCascadia and the Freightliner eM2.

Daimler said the development of the battery systems lies with the Trucks & Buses group. Battery pack assembly will be carried out by Daimler Trucks & Buses as well — at its Mercedes-Benz Mannheim plant in Germany and its Detroit, Michigan plant in the US.

Currently Daimler Trucks & Buses offers the 7.5-tonne all-electric Fuso eCanter for sale in the UK.