Freightliner, a manufacturer of medium- and heavy-duty trucks and a division of Daimler Truck North America (DTNA), unveiled the series production eM2 for pick-up and delivery applications, which is ready to order and will start production in fall this year. At the same time, Freightliner has introduced an eM2 medium-duty truck with the goal to learn from real-world customer experiences in vocational applications.

Built on the M2 106 Plus platform, and introduced on the heels of the series production Freightliner eCascadia Class 8 tractor, the Class 6/7 eM2 expands CO2-neutral transportation to the medium-duty segment. DTNA is beginning full production of the Detroit-powered eM2 for pickup and delivery applications in fall of 2023 at its Portland truck manufacturing plant.

Power of Choice: Built for Quiet Efficiency

The eM2 features a proprietary, fully-integrated, battery electric Detroit ePowertrain, including Detroit eAxles and batteries. The vehicle was designed to minimize energy cost-per-mile by removing the drivetrain and other mechanical components in favor of a lighter, simpler design, which packages the electric motors and 2-speed transmission directly onto the drive axles. Multiple battery size options are available, allowing customers to find a balance between range/runtime and price:

• Class 6 single motor: provides up to 190 continuous hp, a 194 kWh battery and a typical range of 180 miles on one charge

• Class 7 dual-motor: provides up to 255 continuous hp, a 291 kWh battery and a typical range of 250 miles on one charge

For customers who require refrigeration configurations, an electric power takeoff (ePTO) option is available, enabling a choice of refrigeration units that can run on energy from the vehicle's high voltage battery.

Safety for Drivers and Operators with Connectivity They Need

Thanks to its proprietary battery side impact protection and the Detroit Assurance suite of safety systems, the following safety features now come standard with the eM2 and elevate the level of safety in the medium-duty segment:

• Active Brake Assist (ABA) 5.0

• Tailgate Warning

• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) to 0 mph

• Lane Departure Warning

• Intelligent High-Beams

• Automatic Wipers/Headlamps

• Side Guard Assist

The eM2 is designed to allow fleet managers to plan new routes with real-time range prediction, updating automatically for traffic, weather, topography, and other conditions. Fleets will also be able to monitor battery health and state-of-charge for multiple units in real-time while collecting data for post-trip analysis reports to help coach drivers to maximize energy efficiency and battery lifespan.

Rigorously Tested, Ready for Delivery

Built on the medium-duty platform and co-created with customers, the eM2 is built to the same standards as all Freightliner trucks. The eM2 underwent extensive summer and winter testing as well as rough road and crash tests to be able to operate under various conditions and temperatures.

Along with the eCascadia, the eM2 also accumulated more than 1.5 million test miles in customer innovation and experience fleets driven in a variety or real-world applications in almost 50 real fleets operating across the West Coast, New Jersey and Canada. These customer trials allowed for the collection of real-world vehicle performance experience, while also providing companies a chance to test the integration of battery electric trucks into their own fleets.

Expanding Solutions to Vocational Segment

DTNA will begin running an eM2 vocational innovation program to focus on providing zero-emission solutions for the unique requirements of vocational customers and applications. This program particularly targets the utility, sweeper, dump, towing and recovery, and refuse segments and will be packaged and designed for maximum frame space utilization with minimal impact on upfit, especially in the utility segment.

The goal with the eM2 vocational innovation program is to offer operators the familiarity and experience of the M2 chassis while allowing for consistency and ease in the transition to battery electric operations.

The eM2 vocational innovation vehicles are validating new target specifications with work truck customers (actual production vehicle specifications are subject to ongoing tests):

• Up to 330 kWh of usable battery capacity

• Target of 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

• Both electric and mechanical ePTO options to support hydraulic and battery-powered body equipment using the vehicle’s HV battery

A mechanical PTO option if meant to offer flexibility, lowering barriers to entry, and allowing a faster-to-market eM2 for the vocational customer. The PTO is the same interface as customers use with the diesel Freightliner M2s.

Daimler Truck Launches RIZON Electric Trucks in U.S.

Daimler Truck has launched a line of electric trucks in the US market under the new brand name RIZON. The RIZON brand and its vehicle offerings will be presented to the public for the first time at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Anaheim, California.

Three model variants, the e18L, e16L, and the e16M, will be the first trucks available under the RIZON brand. The class 4 and 5 medium-duty battery-electric vehicles, ranging from 15,995 up to 17,995 lbs in gross vehicle weight (GVW), are able to run from 110 -160 miles for L size variant with 3 battery packs) and 75 -110 miles (for M size variant with 2 battery packs) on a single charge. 

The L size (124 kWh) variant has an expected driving range of 110 -160 miles and the M size (83 kWh) variant offers 75 -110 miles on a single charge. The range may vary based on environment conditions, battery health/charge level, recuperation usage, road traffic/profile, accessories usage, speed of operation and driving style.

The RIZON brand will also carry a warranty package that protects the powertrain, chassis and cab, for 5 years/75,000 miles and the high voltage batteries for 5 years/120,000 miles, as of April 2023.

Starting Q4 2023, they will be distributed in the U.S. through an exclusive agreement with Velocity. Velocity touchpoints will serve as one-stop-shops for customers interested in making the jump to electric trucks. Additionally, Velocity will be appointing dealers for RIZON in areas outside of Velocity’s footprint to provide a seamless network across the United States.