Daimler Truck Advances Battery-Electric Ambitions in Germany
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Daimler Truck’s battery-electric vehicle ambitions took another step forward as the world’s largest truck maker opened a center devoted to developing battery expertise in Mannheim, Germany.
“The opening of our Battery Technology Center is an important step in terms of electrifying our product portfolio — and yet another milestone in the history of innovation at the Mannheim plant,” said Andreas Gorbach, the member of the Daimler Truck board responsible for truck technology.
“We have decided to take care of the assembly of the future battery generation ourselves and thus keep important added value in-house. We will do this at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Mannheim and thereby further strengthen the future of the location,” he said.
Product and process development at the BTC will be undertaken initially across 10,000 square meters of space, the company said. Two units will work on battery cells and packs at the site.
Last week our Battery Technology Center (BTC) officially opened at our Mercedes-Benz plant in Mannheim. 🔋
Learn more: https://t.co/CL20Oj7whI#DaimlerTruck #ForAllWhoKeepTheWorldMoving pic.twitter.com/OPBjz58X0x — Daimler Truck (@DaimlerTruck) July 22, 2024
The cell unit was previously known as InnoLab Battery and will produce cells on a pilot basis in order to build up process knowledge.
Across the complex, battery packs will be manufactured as prototypes for test benches and vehicles.
The battery pack pilot production line will be part of preparing the Mannheim site for future series production, which is expected to begin in the second half of the decade.
“At the Battery Technology Center, our specialists are working on building up expertise in the production of battery cells and developing assembly concepts and systems for battery packs. We then want to serially produce these battery packs at the site in the second half of the decade,” Mercedes-Benz Plant Mannheim Site Manager Andreas Moch said.
Over 60 new machines and systems are being installed at the BTC, covering processes such as the coating technologies, welding processes, assembly and adhesive processes.
Across the complex, battery packs will be manufactured as prototypes for test benches and vehicles. (Daimler Truck)
A total of around 100 employees currently work at the BTC. More than 4,600 employees produce engines and related components for commercial vehicles at the Mannheim site.
While diesel engine trucks will continue to be produced at Mannheim alongside battery development, Leinfelden-Echterdingen-based Daimler Truck wants all its new trucks and buses to be carbon dioxide-neutral in Europe, the U.S. and Japan by 2039 — and globally by 2050.
The company’s zero-emission goal is centered around battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks, although tests of internal combustion engines using hydrogen are also underway.
In October, Mercedes-Benz Trucks unveiled a flagship longhaul battery-electric tractor, the eActros 600, intended to compete with rivals such as Volvo Trucks with its FH Electric, plus disruptors such as Tesla with its ballyhooed Semi.
CATL, the top-ranked electric vehicle battery supplier by volume, signed a deal in 2021 to supply the batteries for the eActros 600. At the time, the supply deal was expected to run through 2030. That followed an earlier agreement in 2019 to supply batteries for the eActros 600, its e300/e400 sibling in Europe and Freightliner’s eCascadia in North America.
Battery cells for European vehicles will not be supplied by Daimler Truck North America’s Amplify Cell Technologies joint venture with fellow truck maker Paccar and Accelera, engine heavyweight Cummins’ zero-emission division, a DTNA spokeswoman said in an email.
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