NFI And Penske Receive First Two Freightliner eCascadia

08/23/2019

Daimler is now one of the leading players in the electrification of heavy-duty vehicles with several types of trucks and buses on the road today.

Daimler Trucks proudly handed over its recently completed first two Freightliner eCascadia all-electric trucks to customers for real-world tests before the production launch in 2021.

Those two vehicles are the first out of 20 that will be tested by Daimler’s leading customers:

With up to 250 miles (400 km) of range, the first units will be tested in regional traffic in Southern California (Penske) and in drayage operations at both the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach (NFI).

“Daimler Trucks is further expanding its field tests for medium and heavy-duty e-trucks in North America: This week, American customers Penske Truck Leasing and NFI Industries have acquired the first heavy-duty Freightliner eCascadia trucks (class 8) with a range of up to 250 miles (400 km). Since the end of 2018, both carriers have been field-testing the medium-duty, fully electric Freightliner eM2. Penske will be operating the Freightliner eCascadia in regional traffic in Southern California, while NFI will employ the eCascadia in drayage operations at both the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The two eCascadia are the first heavy-duty trucks in Freightliner’s innovation fleet with a total of 30 electric vehicles. The market launch for both the Freightliner eCascadia and the eM2 truck is currently planned for 2021.”

Freightliner eCascadia (Class 8 tractor) specs:

up to 730 peak horsepower
550 kWh usable battery capacity
up to 250 miles (400 km) of range
ability to charge up to 80 percent (providing a range of 200 miles) in about 90 minutes
80,000 lb. gross combined weight rating (GCWR)