With the futuristic-looking concept truck, Daimler is giving a preview of its future truck flagship with a range of more than 1000 kilometers for the first time.
(Photo: http://media.daimler.com)
new York It is a project with a signal effect: three companies are building a new network for battery-electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles in the USA. Partners of the joint venture are the German truck manufacturer Daimler Truck, the US investment house Blackrock and the power plant division of the US energy company Nextera, as the companies announced on Monday.
The project’s seed funding is approximately $650 million, to be shared equally by the three partners, according to the MoU.
The start is planned for this year, and the first charging stations could be set up in 2023. The consortium has not yet provided any information on their number. However, you are not starting from scratch, but are building on existing Nextera charging stations, which are being made fit for the future.
“The planned joint venture is another building block in our global partnership strategy to expand the infrastructure required for CO2-neutral transport,” explains Martin Daum, CEO of Daimler Trucks. “Such collaborations are essential to successfully meet the urgent need for zero-emission vehicles.” The plan paves the way “for a nationwide infrastructure for battery-electric and hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles in the USA”.
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The head of Daimler Truck is looking forward to the electric drive.
(Photo: dpa)
So far, a corresponding infrastructure is often still missing, especially in the commercial vehicle sector. By 2026, the consortium plans to set up a network of charging stations “on key freight routes along the east and west coasts and in Texas,” according to a statement. “The focus will initially be on charging stations for battery-electric medium-duty and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, followed by hydrogen filling stations for fuel cell trucks.”
Apparently, they don’t want to reserve the locations exclusively for Daimler trucks: they should also be available for light commercial vehicles from other suppliers.
Green investments urgently needed
Experts welcome the plan. “Daimler Truck is doing it right,” says Christian Koenig. The car expert has worked for Porsche in North America and runs an electromobility consultancy in Atlanta. “The establishment of an America-wide charging network for electric commercial vehicles will increase customer acceptance of the new drive technology,” he says.
The intention to open the new e-charging stations to all users is particularly welcome. And with the joint venture, the high initial investment costs would be spread over several shoulders.
In the past, Daimler Truck North America has gained initial experience with setting up its own charging networks. At the headquarters in Portland, for example, the first public charging stations for commercial vehicles have been set up with the local energy supplier PGE. Florida-based Nextera describes itself as a major investor in electrical infrastructure and renewable energy.
And Blackrock, as one of the largest money managers in the world, is desperate for green investing. As recently as 2021, the Americans had collected $4.8 billion for a newly launched renewable energy fund. The Blackrock Renewable Power subsidiary plans to invest a total of 9.5 billion dollars in 15 countries.
The new cooperation is not Daimler Truck’s first electric initiative in the USA. The Stuttgart-based company plans to start production of its E-Cascadia and E-M2 electric trucks by 2023 and is already working with Shell, BP, Siemens and others to advance non-fossil drives. With Traton and Volvo, the company is planning to set up a European high-performance charging network.
Since 2017, VW has been building a charging station network for electric cars in the USA with the company Electrify America. In the course of the diesel scandal, VW was obliged to invest two billion dollars. Charging stations are planned at 500 locations.
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