Daimler Truck North America has announced the launch of its medium-duty electric truck, the Freightliner eM2, which is now available to order in two variants for US Classes 6 and 7. Following the eCascadia heavy-duty truck, the eM2 is the second battery-electric model from Daimler’s truck brand and is expected to enter series production in the autumn of 2023 at the Portland plant. The eM2 shares the same chassis as the combustion model, but the electric motor(s) called the Detroit ePowertrains are integrated directly into the axle. This should allow for savings on mechanical components, leading to simpler and lighter construction, which in turn should improve energy efficiency. The eM2 is designed to offer a reliable, efficient and sustainable solution for pick-up and delivery applications, with a typical range of 180 miles for the Class 6 version and 250 miles for Class 7.
Daimler has been extensively testing the eM2 in customer trials since 2019, covering over 1.5 million miles across 50 fleets operating across the West Coast, New Jersey and Canada. Technical development has been significant, with the pre-production model of 2019 achieving a shorter range of up to 370 km with larger and heavier batteries of 325 kWh, compared to today’s 291 kWh with a range of 400 km. The eM2 is the result of extensive co-creation with customers and years of real-world testing.
Daimler Truck North America has also launched the eM2 vocational innovation program to tackle specific requirements, particularly in the utility, sweeper, dump, towing and recovery, and refuse segments and upfit the eM2 series accordingly. The company has developed new target specifications in collaboration with work truck customers in the real world, with up to 330 kWh of usable battery capacity, 150 miles range, depending on the application, wheelbases between 155-inch and 220-inch, only 10-inch of back-of-cab protrusion space for battery, and both electric and mechanical ePTO options to support hydraulic and battery-powered body equipment using the vehicle’s HV battery. These specs are subject to ongoing tests.
See also: Daimler starts customer deliveries of Freightliner eCascadia all-electric semi-truck
Freightliner has also launched Detroit eConsultants as a service partner to provide advice on infrastructure, choosing chargers, navigating rebates and incentives, assisting with site selection, providing connectivity insights, and offering photovoltaic and energy storage options.
Overall, Daimler Truck North America is making significant progress in the electrification of its medium and heavy-duty trucks. The launch of the Freightliner eM2 and the eM2 vocational innovation program are important steps towards achieving sustainable and efficient transportation.
