American icon Freightliner goes electric

If the world’s attention is solely on the Tesla Semi and the Mercedes eActros 600, we must not forget the legend of the Freightliner highways.

Founded in 1929 by Leland James in the state of Washington, the company only adopted the name Freightliner in 1942 and settled in Portland, Oregon. With their imposing grilles and chimney-style exhausts, Freightliners are set to traverse American roads for four decades before the German company Daimler Benz acquired the firm in 1981. Aware of the nation’s strong attachment to its trucks, the German company decided to keep the name and identity of the company, which is now shifting towards electric vehicles.

While in Europe the eActros 600 leads the German group’s offensive, its American cousin, the Freightliner eCascadia, has entered production after being tested over more than a million kilometers. Offering a range of 230 miles, or 370 km, the eCascadia is not intended to compete with its thermal counterparts. Instead, it is perfectly suited for short-distance routes that allow recharging from a depot, such as last-mile logistics, local and regional distribution, and warehouse-to-warehouse applications.

It is complemented by a small, non-articulated brother called the eM2. Still manufactured in Portland, it is equipped with electric motors and a two-speed transmission directly mounted on the driven axles, which helps minimize energy costs per kilometer. Its range depends on two available battery capacity options. The single-motor model delivers up to 190 hp with a 194 kWh battery that provides a range of 290 km on a single charge. The dual-motor version offers 255 hp, supported by a 291 kWh battery, with a range of 400 km.

It’s hard not to draw parallels between these two Freightliners and the eActros lineup. American vehicles, with an American look, reserved for the American market, but a great illustration of collaboration between Mercedes’ and Freightliner’s design teams in developing zero-emission transportation.

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