Rizon, Daimler Truck’s newest brand of all-electric vehicles, achieved its first official handover in Canada when it turned over an 18,850 GVW e18L fitted with a dump body to Villamar Construction in Victoria, British Columbia. The unit will be integrated into Villamar’s operations and used on custom home-building projects.

An additional 18 units upfitted with various bodies—such as dry boxes, service bodies, and landscape dumps—will be delivered to customers across British Columbia and Quebec in the coming weeks. Customers include municipalities, rental and leasing providers as well as freight and logistics companies.

“This handover marks a significant step for Daimler Truck in bringing zero-emission commercial vehicles to Canadian businesses,” said Andreas Deuschle, the Global Head of Rizon Truck. “Commercial EVs are no longer a future concept—they’re here, hitting the road and serving in communities across Canada. We congratulate Villamar Construction on leading the charge and look forward to seeing RIZON trucks drive the growth of zero-emission transportation nationwide.”

Rizon’s current network of dealers in Canada includes nine locations across British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec, and it plans to expand to other locations soon.

Demand for Zero-Emission Solutions in Canada

Rizon Truck launched in Canada in 2024 to meet the demand for zero-emission vehicles as the government aims for net-zero emissions by 2050. The Canadian government has established an incentive program to encourage fleets to electrify, prompting companies and municipalities to explore sustainable fleet options for improved environmental performance and operational efficiency.

EV Incentives Offered in Canada

These vehicles will qualify for the Canadian government’s Incentives for Medium- and Heavy-Duty-Zero-Vehicles (iMHZEV) program, which has been in effect since 2022. A Rizon truck will qualify for approximately $75,000 at the point of sale under this program. Rizon trucks may qualify for additional provincial incentives up to $75,000 in B.C.

4 Model Variants Offered in Canada

Rizon offers four model variants for Canadian customers, the e16L, e16M, e18L, and the e18M, with a versatile mix of configurations and options suitable for each customer’s unique requirements, ranging from 15,995 to 18,850 pounds in gross vehicle weight (GVW). The vehicles can run up to 257 km (for L size variant with 3 battery packs) and up to 177 km (for M size variant with two battery packs) on a single charge.

Rizon said the trucks are ideally suited to a variety of applications, such as dry vans, flatbeds, landscape dumps, garbage compactors, and reefers. They feature an electric power take-off (ePTO) that is controllable from the cab and allows for specialized equipment such as reefer belt drives and hydraulic pumps.

Advanced Safety Features of Rizon Trucks

In addition to versatility, Rizon trucks incorporate advanced passive and active safety systems to help safeguard drivers, passengers, and the communities in which they operate. With Daimler Truck’s safety technology, such as Active Brake Assist and Active Side Guard Assist, drivers can feel even more secure in stop-and-go traffic and congested urban areas.

Charging Options for Rizon Trucks

Two types of battery charging systems can charge Rizon trucks: Level 2 AC charging (J1772) and DC Fast Charging, which is CCS1 compliant.

Optimized for Cold Weather Operations

One important aspect of operating EVs in Canada is cold-weather performance. Rizon trucks feature an electric preconditioning function that brings the batteries to the ideal temperature before operation using power from the grid. This feature enables vehicles to operate with improved performance in cold weather.

Furthermore, they come equipped with heated features for driver comfort, including a heated seat, steering wheel, and windshield.

Leveraging Daimler Truck’s OEM Quality

Leveraging Daimler Truck’s expertise in designing and building commercial vehicles, Rizon is built on the knowledge gained from over 12 million kilometers of electric driving. Boasting proprietary connectivity services from RizonConnect, a fully integrated active safety system, the best warranty in the segment, and financing from Daimler Truck Financial Services, Rizon’s connection to the Daimler Truck portfolio is strong.

Rizon Trucks at a Glance

Rizon is Daimler Truck’s ninth, and newest, brand and represents its dedication to zero-emission transportation. The brand and its trucks were announced to the public for the first time during the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in May of 2023, in Anaheim, California, and are currently in operation by customers on Canadian and American streets.

For Canadian customers, the class 4-5 medium-duty battery-electric vehicles will range from 15,995 to 18,850 lbs. in gross vehicle weight (GVW) and can run up to 177 km (for the M size variant with 2 battery packs) and up to 257 km (the L size variant with 3 battery packs) on a single charge.

Rizon trucks can be charged by two types of battery charging systems: DC Fast Charging (via CCS1 connector) and less expensive Level 2 AC Charging (via J1772 connector). This flexibility means customers can expect to charge their truck today while being ready for DC Fast chargers in the future.

Rizon Truck Canada

Rizon Truck Canada, a zero-emission truck distributor based in Surrey, BC, distributes Rizon trucks exclusively in Canada. Velocity Vehicle Group is one of the largest full-service commercial truck dealerships in North America and one of the most experienced electric truck dealers in the world.