Daimler Truck has recently unveiled a new brand of medium-duty electric trucks in the United States, called Rizon. The new trucks will come in two models: L-model and M-model, both with different battery packs and ranges. The L-model will have three 124 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery packs, offering a range of 110 to 160 miles (177 to 257 km). On the other hand, the smaller M-model features two 83 kWh battery packs and can go 75 to 110 miles (121 to 177 km) on a single charge.
Daimler Truck opted for LFP battery technology, as it has double the life of other cathode materials and offers better reliability. The Rizon truck will also come with two battery-charging systems. It will take about five to six hours to charge the battery using a Level 2 AC charger and 45 to 90 minutes at a DC charging station. The production of Rizon electric trucks is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2023, with the first deliveries scheduled for the fourth quarter of the same year.
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The Velocity Vehicle Group was named the exclusive distributor of Rizon trucks in the US. Although Daimler Truck did not mention it in the press release, the Rizon vehicles are likely the Fuso eCanter with a different brand logo. In September 2022, Daimler Truck presented the current generation of the Fuso eCanter, which has a similar appearance and comparable technical data. It is expected that the Rizon vehicles will be imported from Japan, though Daimler Truck did not specify where they would be built.
The Rizon models could be in high demand in the US, especially since the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed emission cuts for cars and trucks through 2032, while California lawmakers plan to vote on even stricter rules for their state.
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Daimler Truck also announced a new joint venture to set up charging and H2 fuelling stations for medium- and heavy-duty trucks in the US, called Greenlane. The more than $650 million joint venture will be operated together with NextEra Energy Resources and Blackrock. Greenlane’s initial focus will be on charging stations for medium and heavy-duty BEV commercial vehicles. It also plans to set up hydrogen refuelling stations for fuel cell trucks and include light commercial vehicles in the future. Greenlane’s first site will be in Southern California, with plans to build a network of charging sites on critical freight routes along the east and west coasts and in Texas by 2026.
