Freightliner eM2 Serial Production Begins at Portland Plant
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Serial production of Freightliner’s eM2 medium-duty battery-electric truck began at Daimler Truck North America’s Portland, Ore., manufacturing plant in recent days, DTNA said Oct. 26.
Designed for pickup and delivery applications, the first U.S. customers to receive trucks will include Hogan Truck Leasing, Penske Truck Leasing, Pitt Ohio, Ryder System Inc., Titan Freight Systems and Velocity Truck Rental & Leasing.
Brossard Leasing and Day & Ross will be the first Canadian customers to receive trucks, DTNA said.
“The start of production for this versatile truck marks another important milestone on our journey to a zero-emissions product line,” said Rakesh Aneja, head of eMobility at DTNA.
DTNA launched the eM2 in May during the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo.
Before launch, the eM2 accumulated more than 1.5 million test miles in real-world use with almost 50 fleets on the West Coast, in New Jersey and in Canada. (Daimler Trucks North America)
The eM2 is offered in two configurations: a Class 6 single-motor version with up to 190 continuous horsepower from a 194-kWh battery and an average range of 180 miles on a single charge; and a Class 7 dual-motor version, with up to 255 continuous hp from a 291-kWh battery and an average range of 250 miles per charge.
Featuring a proprietary, fully integrated, battery-electric Detroit ePowertrain, the eM2 is built on the Freightliner M2 106 Plus platform.
When the truck was unveiled at the ACT Expo in May, DTNA CEO John O’Leary said that beyond the initial urban pickup and delivery applications, the eM2 would also be available for vocational applications.
On Nov. 6, DNTA announced that it has entered into a long-term agreement with Hexagon Purus to integrate the zero-emission mobility and infrastructure component supplier’s equipment into the Freightliner eM2. The deal includes Hexagon’s proprietary battery systems, auxiliary modules, power modules and vehicle-level software. It will also include power-take-off options to supply power to the vocational body and the equipment.
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“We are excited about our collaboration with Hexagon Purus and the potential it holds for the future of electric vocational trucks,” said Aaron Scates, DTNA vice president of vocational and medium-duty market development, in a release.
The companies have worked together before; DTNA previously partnered with Hexagon’s Agility division on the development of Freightliner natural gas fuel tank integration and worked earlier with Hexagon Purus on the first generation of DTNA electric vehicles.
“We are proud to continue our long-standing relationship with DTNA, and we look forward to supporting them on this vocational vehicle program and in driving their transition to zero-emission mobility,” Hexagon Purus CEO Morten Holum said.
Before launch, the eM2 accumulated more than 1.5 million test miles in real-world use with almost 50 fleets on the West Coast, in New Jersey and in Canada.
Ahead of entering the medium-duty battery-electric truck sector, DTNA launched the heavy-duty battery-electric Freightliner eCascadia in 2022. DTNA said the eCascadia is the best-selling model in the Class 8 market so far in 2023, citing Polk registration data.
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