Daimler Truck North America started production of the Freightliner eM2, a battery electric, medium-duty truck designed for pick-up and delivery applications.
"The start of production for this versatile truck marks another important milestone on our journey to a zero-emissions product line," says Rakesh Aneja, head of emobility at DTNA. "The feedback we've received reinforces our confidence that the Freightliner eM2 will meet and exceed our customer's expectations. Our partners and dealers are looking forward to introducing the Freightliner eM2 to their customers, and we are excited to see it in use by customers and fleets."
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The first production units will go to Ferguson, Hogan Truck Leasing, Penske Truck Leasing, PITT OHIO, Ryder, TITAN Freight Systems and Velocity Truck Rental & Leasing. In Canada, the first trucks will go to Brossard Leasing and Day & Ross.
The eM2 is built on the Freightliner M2 106 Plus platform. As a CO2-neutral truck, it follows the battery electric Freightliner eCascadia, introduced in 2022. The eM2 features a proprietary, fully integrated, battery electric Detroit ePowertrain. The design places electric motors and a two-speed transmission directly on the drive axles, which DTNA says results in minimized energy cost per mile.
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There are two battery capacity options for the eM2. The Class 6 single-motor model provides up to 190 continuous horsepower, a 194kWh battery and a typical range of 180 miles on a single charge. The Class 7 dual-motor model offers up to 255 continuous horsepower, a 291 kWh battery and a typical range of 250 miles on a single charge.
Standard safety features include proprietary side impact protection and the Detroit Assurance suite of safety systems. Each eM2 has Active Brake Assist 5 (ABA5), tailgate warning, adaptive cruise control (ACC) down to 0 mph, lane departure warning, intelligent high beams, automatic wipers and headlamps, and Side Guard Assist. The truck also features Detroit Connect, a connected vehicle solution that facilitates real-time monitoring of battery health, charging status and energy usage. Detroit Connect enables efficient route planning, energy optimization and post-trip data analysis to improve overall energy efficiency, DTNA says.
