Daimler Truck introduced a new, all-electric, medium-duty truck brand, Rizon, focusing on Class 4 and Class 5 medium-duty vocational trucks. Rizon trucks will be distributed exclusively by the Velocity Vehicle Group in North America, with a comprehensive sales and support dealer network. Financing will be provided by Daimler Truck Financial Services.

“Rizon will establish a place in the North American electric truck market by forming partnerships with fleet owners as they begin to shift to zero-emissions transportation options,” said Karl Deppen, president and CEO of Daimler Trucks, during a virtual press conference on April 27.

“Fleet owners and truck drivers will be comprehensively supported through an experienced dealership network offering a range of services that help deliver the seamless experience customers expect from Daimler Truck’s brands,” he said. “This will include services such as consulting on AC and DC charging, as well as telematics access.”

Models That Optimize Day-To-Day Operations

Rizon will offer three models: The e18L, e16L, and the e16M, which will be available in a “versatile” mix of configurations and options suitable to each customer’s unique requirements to optimize day-to-day operations and productivity, according to Deppen. The Class 4 and 5 medium-duty battery-electric trucks range from 15,995 to 17,995 lbs. GVWR.

Rizon trucks are capable of being charged by two types of battery charging systems, according to Andreas Deuschle, global head of Rizon Truck: Level 2 AC charging and DC fast-charging systems.

“Charging times using the AC system will be from five to six hours,” Deuschle said. “The DC fast charging system will result in a full charge in 45 to 90 minutes.”

According to Brad Fauvre, president of Velocity, L models with three battery packs will deliver 110 to 160 miles of range on a single charge. M variants, with two battery packs, will deliver between 75 and 110 miles on a single charge.

Fauvre said both L and M Rizon models are well suited to a variety of vocational applications, including:

• Dry vans.

• Flatbeds.

• Landscape dumps.

• Reefers.

“All Rizon trucks are built using proven quality assurance standards developed by Daimler Truck and in practice at more than 40 manufacturing locations around the world,” Fauvre added.

“In addition, Rizon trucks will provide both fleet owners and drivers peace of mind on the road thanks to standard advanced passive and active safety systems to help safeguard drivers, passengers, and the communities in which they operate. Drivers can feel even more secure in stop-and-go traffic and congested urban areas with Daimler Truck’s safety technology such as Active Brake Assist and Active Side Guard Assist.”

The Rizon brand and its vehicle offerings will be presented to the public for the first time at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo, May 1-4 in Anaheim, California.

Not Daimler's First Class 4-5 BEV in North America

Daimler previously offered a battery-electric Class 4 cabover truck through its Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America subsidiary, the eCanter, in 2017. However, in 2020, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America discontinued sales of all new trucks, including the eCanter. The move was a result of a re-evaluation by Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corp. of its business situation in the U.S. and Canada.

With members of Daimler Truck Asia’s leadership team presenting at the virtual press conference, there is speculation that Rizon is essentially a rebranding of the electric Fuso eCanter for North America. Reporters asked Daimler Truck North America chief John O'Leary about the connection during a press event during the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo on May 1.

He pointed out that there are three major operating units within Daimler Truck: DTNA operating primarily in North America; the unit producing Mercedes-Benz trucks primarily for Europe and Brazil; and Daimler Truck Asia, which is primarily the Fuso brand, operating primarily in Asia and then also exporting around the world.

"So this is their baby," O'Leary said, referring to Daimler Truck Asia. "This was part of their global growth strategy. ... It's their product. It's their customer base. It's their everything."

Updated May 1, 4:45 EDT, to add comments from ACT Expo.