Daimler Truck North America starts series production of battery electric Freightliner eM2

Daimler Truck AG recently announced the start of production of the Freightliner eM2 at their subsidiary Daimler Truck North America LLC. The battery electric medium-duty truck is designed for pick-up and delivery applications and represents one of now ten battery electric vehicles from Daimler Truck in series production worldwide, the press release notes.

According to the company, the Freightliner eM2 is being manufactured at DTNA’s truck manufacturing plant in Portland, Oregon. The first production units in the U.S. will be delivered to Ferguson, Hogan Truck Leasing, Inc., Penske Truck Leasing, PITT OHIO, Ryder System, Inc., TITAN Freight Systems and Velocity Truck Rental & Leasing. In Canada, the first units will go to Brossard Leasing and Day & Ross.

The eM2 is built on the Freightliner M2 106 Plus platform and follows the introduction of the battery electric Freightliner eCascadia in 2022, extending CO2-neutral transportation to the medium-duty segment.

The eM2 features a proprietary, fully integrated, battery electric Detroit ePowertrain. Its design places electric motors and a 2-speed transmission directly on the drive axles, resulting in minimized energy cost per mile, the press release notes. The driving range varies based on the two available battery capacity options for the eM2. The class 6 single-motor model provides up to 190 continuous horsepower, a 194 kWh battery, and a typical range of 180 miles (290 kilometers) on a single charge, the press release notes. In contrast, the class 7 dual-motor variant offers up to 255 continuous horsepower, supported by a 291 kWh battery, providing a typical range of 250 miles (400 kilometers) on a single charge.

Standard safety features now include active brake assist 5 (ABA5), tailgate warning, adaptive cruise control (ACC) down to 0 mph, lane departure warning, intelligent high-beams, automatic wipers/headlamps, and side guard assist. The eM2 is further enhanced by Detroit Connect, a connected vehicle solution that facilitates real-time monitoring of battery health, charging status, and energy usage. This connectivity enables efficient route planning, energy optimization, and post-trip data analysis to improve overall energy efficiency.