Daimler Trucks & Buses is investing in Proterra Inc. of the US and has entered into an agreement with it to explore electrification of select Daimler heavy-duty vehicles. The first of these efforts will be to explore potential synergies with Daimler’s Thomas Built Buses division by bringing Proterra’s proven battery and drive train technologies to the North American school bus market, the next frontier for zero-emission, commercial fleets.
The announcement of the partnership was made by Martin Daum, member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG with responsibility for Daimler Trucks & Buses at the 67th IAA Commercial Vehicles in Hannover. Proterra, founded in 2004 with headquarters in California, is a leader in the business with electric buses for local transport.
Similar to public transit vehicles, school buses provide mission-critical community infrastructure and offer an excellent case for vehicle electrification, as most school buses travel a predictable distance per day that is well within the capability of Proterra’s EV technology.
With this collaboration on an electric vehicle for the school bus market, Daimler and Proterra have the potential to provide reliable, affordable transportation options with environmentally sustainable, zero-emission EV technology.
Martin Daum stated: “We started working on electric trucks and buses at a very early stage and we aim to set the standards here in each relevant segment. We expect the co-operation with Proterra to provide an additional impetus for the development of heavy-duty commercial vehicles with electric drive. In this way, we are broadening our scope in particular concerning the key technology of the battery – also with regard to North America.”
Mercedes-Benz eCitaro
The new, all-electric Mercedes-Benz eCitaro had its trade-fair premiere at IAA. The new city bus achieves unprecedented energy efficiency, thanks to its innovative thermal management. With a battery capacity of 243 kWh and space for up to 88 passengers, the eCitaro is already the ideal vehicle for a considerable proportion of the operations undertaken by city buses today. In just a few years it will be able to completely replace the combustion engine with unique battery technology and fuel cells as a range extender.
The new eCitaro is an integral part of the eMobility system at Daimler Buses. This eMobility system supports transport operators with everything from in-depth advice, an intelligent charging management system and the training of employees through to the provision of specific services. The overall package is a compelling offer: Even before the vehicle goes into series production this autumn, orders have been received for several dozen eCitaro buses from customers in Germany and abroad, including Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe, Rhein-Neckar Verkehrsverbund, Hamburger Hochbahn and customers in Norway.
Mercedes-Benz eActros
Already at IAA 2016, Mercedes-Benz Trucks was the world’s first manufacturer to present a heavy-duty electric truck. Now, the technology leader has taken the next step with the completely further developed Mercedes-Benz eActros, which had its world premiere in February this year. The first eActros was delivered in September to Hermes for use with the customer under real-life conditions. By the end of this year, the customer innovation fleet will comprise 10 vehicles. Series production is planned to start in 2021.
The key features of the eActros include 11 battery packs inside and below the chassis, with a usable total capacity of 240 kWh. Drive comes from electric motors close to the wheel hubs with a maximum output of 2 x 126 kW. The additional weight of approximately 2.5 tons compared with the conventional drive is partly offset by the increase in the permissible gross vehicle weight in the EU of one ton for trucks with alternative drive systems. The range of the eActros of around 200 km covers for example a typical day’s tour in the distribution of fresh food transport to supermarkets.
FUSO eCanter
The all-electric light-duty FUSO eCanter is also in regular use with various customers in major cities in North America, Europe and Asia. The light-duty truck’s six batteries with a total capacity of 82.8 kWh allow a range of more than 100 km, which is more than many customers require for daily deliveries in urban areas.
The electric motor has an output of 129 kW and the FUSO eCanter has a payload of up to 3.5 tons, depending on body and application. The FUSO eCanter is free of local emissions and nearly silent, and is produced in Tramagal, Portugal, for approximately 30 markets in Europe and the US. For the Japanese market it is produced at the Mitsubishi FUSO plant in Kawasaki.
The E-FUSO Vision One also provided a glimpse of the future at IAA. It is a realistic preview of an all-electric heavy-duty truck from the E-FUSO brand. The three-axle truck for distribution transport will achieve a range of up to 350 km, thanks to a battery capacity of 300 kWh. The separate E-FUSO product brand for electric vehicles shows how seriously FUSO is taking the topic of electric drive.