Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) and Hexagon Purus have solidified a long-term partnership to provide comprehensive vehicle integration for the battery-electric Freightliner eM2. The eM2, designed exclusively for vocational applications in commercial and municipal vehicle sectors, aims to offer versatile upfit options.
Earlier this year, Daimler Truck North America unveiled the vocational Freightliner eM2 prototype, and as part of an innovation project with selected Truck Equipment Manufacturers Alamo and Altec, vocational upfit options were developed. These options cater to various vocational segments, including utility, sweeper, dump, construction, towing, and refuse.
Hexagon Purus’ proprietary zero-emission technology, encompassing battery systems, auxiliary modules, power modules, and vehicle-level software, will be integrated into the Freightliner eM2. The collaboration includes power-take-off (PTO) options, enabling the supply of power to the vocational body and equipment. Hexagon Purus’ high-voltage battery technology, known for its efficient kWh per meter of frame length, aligns with the packaging requirements of medium-duty vocational applications.
Aaron Scates, Vice President of Vocational and Medium-Duty Market Development at DTNA, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, citing shared history, combined experience, and the remarkable battery technology offered by Hexagon Purus. The aim is to deliver effective and flexible solutions for vocational customers in the USA.
This partnership builds on years of existing collaboration between Daimler Truck North America and Hexagon Purus. It positions the two companies to complement DTNA’s existing eCascadia and eM2 battery electric portfolio, already in production. The eM2, the second battery-electric model in Daimler’s Freightliner brand, is scheduled for series production at the Portland plant in autumn 2023.
Hexagon Purus, a provider of fuel cell cylinders and gas tanks for trucks, recently joined the HyMon project in Germany, focusing on developing an intelligent system for permanent condition monitoring of hydrogen tanks. In the US, Hexagon announced plans to supply hydrogen fuel cell trucks to markets in 2021. The company is set to open a new vehicle integration facility in Dallas, Texas, in September 2023, further expanding its vehicle integration capacity.
Todd Sloan, Executive Vice President of Hexagon Purus, highlighted the new facility’s strategic location, proximity to key suppliers, and increased capacity, positioning it as an ideal hub for vehicle integration operations. While the recent announcements do not explicitly outline Daimler Truck North America leveraging this new capacity, the partnership signifies a significant stride in advancing electric vocational trucks in the North American market.
