In the future all e-initiatives of a division under one roof: Daimler counters Tesla with its own heavy electric truck

07/06/2018

All e-initiatives of a division under one roof in the future Daimler counters Tesla with its own electric heavy-duty truck

REUTERS

Daimler wants to significantly expand its range of electrically operated transporters to heavy trucks

Daimler is competing with Tesla and other manufacturers for a heavy, electric-powered truck. The “eCascadia” should go into series production in 2021 and create up to 400 kilometers. Also a smaller further E-truck is planned.

Truck manufacturer Daimler is now also launching two completely electric trucks for its US brand Freightliner. Initially, however, only 30 vehicles will be delivered to customers in a kind of pilot phase, as the company announced on the night of Thursday (CEST) at an investor event in Portland, Oregon.

The start of series production is planned for 2021, just like the Mercedes-Benz model eActros. In addition, Daimler manages everything that has to do with electric vehicles in its trucks and buses, under one roof, across all brands.

Daimler

Mercedes-Benz eActros in use

The first 30 Freightliner e-trucks will be handed over to customers this year as an “innovation fleet”. One pursues thereby the goal together to gain further insights, how electric trucks could be used as efficiently as possible in everyday life, it was said. The heavy “eCascadia” should have a range of up to 400 kilometers, the lighter “eM2” should create up to 370 kilometers.

US competitor Tesla had announced last year a 40-ton truck with up to 800 kilometers range. Already at the presentation of the eActros in February, Daimler’s truck chief Martin Daum had shown skeptically whether this was feasible. Also the eActros is tested by selected customers for everyday use before it goes into production.

Daimler AG

Fuso eCanter: The electric van is already being manufactured

For the small eCanter Fuso Daimler is already a step further: it is available at least in small series. Since the beginning of the year first copies of the “Fuso eCanter” also traveling in Europe, Its customers include the logistics companies Dachser, Schenker, Rhenus and DHL. The series production is to succeed from 2019. The e-van with a range of up to 100 kilometers and a top speed of 80 km / h is a joint development Daimler and Mitsubishi and similar to the “StreetScooter” The Deutsche Post is primarily intended for the city area and the nearer urban environment.

Other truck manufacturers are also working on electric trucks to curb pollutant emissions caused by diesel traffic. So wants the VW subsidiary MAN also from 2021 to bring larger quantities of e-trucks on the market.

In November, US electric car maker Tesla had announced a serious electric truck called “Tesla Semi”to offer from 2019. In contrast to the Daimler and MAN models, the truck is intended for long-haul flights of up to 800 kilometers and, at 36 tons, heavier than the “eActros”.

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