Daimler Truck North America LLC’s (DTNA) Mexican division has successfully delivered the initial two battery electric Freightliner eCascadias, manufactured in Portland, Oregon, to Transportes Esteban, a prominent player in the cargo transportation sector with 22 years of industry expertise. The electric Class 8 truck is slated for regular operations within Daimler Truck Mexico’s truck manufacturing plant (TMP) in Santiago.
Simultaneously, the Santiago truck manufacturing plant has been designated as the site for Mexico’s second commercial vehicle charging facility, specifically tailored for heavy-duty truck electric charging. Drawing insights from the pioneering “Electric Island” at DTNA headquarters in Portland, DTNA’s Mexican branch remains dedicated to addressing customers’ needs and demands.
Marcela Barreiro, President & CEO of Daimler Truck Mexico, expressed, “Today we are celebrating a historic moment in which we take a look at the future of Daimler Truck mobility with two great events.” She highlighted the commencement of operations for the first all-electric Freightliner unit in Mexico and the inauguration of the second Electric Island in Mexico, emphasizing the ongoing commitment to fostering new technologies.
The installation of the second “Electric Island” charging station, situated within the Daimler Truck Santiago TMP, is intended for use by the Freightliner eCascadia as an integral part of the plant’s daily logistics operations. This investment aligns with a broader project to curtail the plant’s emissions while leveraging DTNA’s advanced technology.
The second “Electric Island” installation features a Detroit eFill charger with a charging capacity of up to 120 kW, capable of charging 80% of the eCascadia’s battery capacity in 220 minutes. The Detroit eFill chargers incorporate intelligent charging management software, optimizing energy consumption and seamlessly integrating vehicle information, stations, and the charging process through a telematics platform.
Since its production debut in 2022, the battery-electric Freightliner eCascadia has been distributed to over 50 fleets in North America, accumulating more than 3.5 million electric miles in real-world customer applications to date.
With this recent delivery and future plans in the pipeline, Daimler Truck Mexico takes a significant stride in the transition to zero-emission mobility, underscoring its commitment to spearheading sustainable transformation.
