Daimler Truck North America has announced the delivery of its first battery-electric Freightliner eM2 trucks. The OEM said series production of the medium-duty electric vehicles began at the end of 2023. Since then, the Freightliner eM2, manufactured at DTNA’s plant in Portland, Oregon, has been distributed to fleet customers across the country.

 Electric LTL Operations

Pitt Ohio, a transportation, warehouse, and logistics services company, is the first U.S. fleet to deploy the eM2. The fleet is integrating two Freightliner eM2 Class 7 trucks into operations out of its Cleveland, Ohio, terminal. The two battery-electric trucks will complement its existing conventional Freightliner M2s and underscore the company’s commitment to sustainability, Pitt Ohio said. This addition marks an important step in reducing the fleet's carbon footprint, the fleet added, and represents a milestone in the adoption of electric medium-duty vehicles for commercial use.

The battery-electric eM2 trucks with 26-foot-long box bodies will operating out of the Cleveland terminal will support the company's Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) freight shipping business.

In a press release, DTNA said it is committed to its long-term vision to offer only CO2-neutral vehicles in key markets by 2039. However, Daimler added, these goals can only be met if the necessary infrastructure is in place and a favorable total cost of ownership can be achieved for customers.

“At DTNA, we're dedicated to providing innovative, safe, and reliable solutions that adapt to the changing needs of our customers,” said David Carson, senior vice president sales and marketing at Daimler Truck North America. “The delivery of the eM2 is a testament to our ongoing commitment to our growing portfolio of zero-emissions vehicles. The eM2 builds on the success of our conventional M2 and extends its efficiency and versatility into the zero-emission vehicle space. We're pleased to support Pitt Ohio's sustainability efforts with our trucks and work together to create a more environmentally conscious logistics industry.”

“The technology is rapidly evolving. It’s exciting to see how fast this change is occurring, resulting in significant improvements both in range and payload that are nearer to our conventional units (than earlier battery electric vehicles),” said Taki Darakos, Pitt Ohio’s vice president of vehicle maintenance and fleet services. “We appreciate the support of all our partners involved and look forward to their performance in our operation.”

Electric School Buses Up to Class 8 Trucks

DTNA has been involved in commercial electric vehicle development since 2018. Their electric lineup includes the Jouley, an all-electric bus from Thomas Built Bus, available since 2020, the FCCC MT50e walk-in van chassis for final mile delivery, available since 2021, and the Class 8 Freightliner eCascadia, available since 2022.

In 2023, the company added the eM2, with a 180-mile typical range for Class 6 and 250 miles for Class 7, for pick-up and delivery customers who require an adaptable electric solution. Vocational innovation vehicles were introduced last year and are in use with customers.

The eM2 sales process and delivery have been supported by Fyda Freightliner, a DTNA Elite Support certified dealership with seven locations, serving the Midwest which has supported PITT OHIO for the past 20 years.