First Battery-Electric Freightliner eM2 Box Trucks Hit the Road

Daimler Truck North America LLC (DTNA) announced the delivery of its first battery-electric Freightliner eM2 trucks, after the start of series production of the medium-duty electric vehicles at the end of 2023.

The Freightliner eM2, manufactured at DTNA’s plant in Portland, Oregon, has since been distributed to customers across the country. PITT OHIO, a leading transportation, warehouse, and logistics services company, is the first to deploy the eM2.

The two Freightliner eM2 Class 7 trucks, which PITT OHIO is integrating into its fleet, complement its existing conventional Freightliner M2s and underscores the company’s commitment to sustainability. This addition marks an important step in reducing the fleet's carbon footprint and represents a significant milestone in the adoption of electric medium-duty vehicles for commercial use. The battery-electric eM2 trucks with 26-foot-long box bodies will operate out of PITT OHIO's Cleveland, Ohio terminal and support the company's Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) freight shipping business.

DTNA is committed to its long-term vision to offer only CO2-neutral vehicles in key markets by 2039, if the necessary infrastructure is in place and a favorable total cost of ownership can be achieved for customers, thus emphasizing its environmental responsibility.

“At DTNA, we're dedicated to providing innovative, safe, and reliable solutions that adapt to the changing needs of our customers. 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," said David Carson, senior vice president sales and marketing at Daimler Truck North America. “We're pleased to support PITT OHIO's sustainability efforts with our trucks and work together to create a more environmentally conscious logistics industry.”

DTNA has been a pioneer 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, ideal 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 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.”

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.