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Daimler introduces E-Mobility Group, two new electric trucks for US market

8 June 2018

Daimler Trucks announced it is establishing E-Mobility Group (EMG)—a global organization for e-mobility, including a new leadership function. Daimler also introduced two new, fully-electric trucks from Freightliner, its leading US truck brand.

Moving forward, the E-Mobility Group (EMG) will—across all Daimler brands and divisions—define the strategy for electric components, complete electric vehicles, and develop a standardized, 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 various locations throughout the company’s worldwide development network—in Portland (USA), Stuttgart (Germany) and Kawasaki (Japan). Effective July 1st, Gesa Reimelt, who is currently head of Product Projects Powertrain & eDrive Mercedes-Benz passenger cars, will become head of this new, cross-divisional organization. In this function she will report to Dr. Frank Reintjes, head of Global Powertrain and Manufacturing Engineering at Daimler Trucks.

Martin Daum, member of the Daimler Board of Management for Trucks and Buses, said: “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 electric trucks presented by Daimler were the Freightliner eCascadia—a heavy-duty electric truck for long-distance operations (>15 t GVW)—and an electric variant of the Freightliner eM2 106—a medium-duty truck (9 to 12 t GVW) intended for local distribution operations. Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) is planning to hand over a test fleet of around 30 electric trucks to its first customers in the United States in the course of this year.

The Freightliner eCascadia is based on the Cascadia heavy-duty (Class 8) truck. The eCascadia is powered by a 730 hp electric motor. 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% within 90 minutes to cover a further 320 km (200 miles), according to Daimler. Assuming a battery mass factor of 155 Wh/kg, the 550 kWh battery would have a mass of about 3500 kg. To charge the battery to 80% in 90 min would require electric power of about 300 kW (550 kWh × 0.8 / 1.5 h).

The Freightliner eM2 106 is powered by batteries that can 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% within 60 min, sufficient for a range of around 300 km (184 miles).

Daimler’s portfolio of electric commercial vehicles includes—in addition to the two 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.

Source: Daimler