Daimler Truck Expansion to Advance Battery-Electric Vehicles in Portland
Mobility is a key emphasis in Portland’s Green Cities efforts. Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), the leading commercial vehicle manufacturer in North America and a Portland-based company, is a key employer and investor in this space. The company recently announced a multimillion-dollar expansion at its Swan Island headquarters, where it is developing battery-electric vehicles as a solution to achieve emissions-free commercial transportation in North America.
By the end of 2019, Daimler will have 50 battery-electric medium- and heavy-duty trucks on U.S. roads. These early vehicles are providing valuable test data to further enable widespread adoption of battery-electric commercial vehicles.
Also located on Swan Island, Daimler Trucks’ Portland Manufacturing Plant will serve as the site of series production for both the medium-duty eM2 and heavy-duty eCascadia trucks. The plant already adheres to zero waste to landfill protocols and by the time series production of the eM2 and eCascadia models begins, the facility will run on 100% renewable energy.
Daimler’s investment means jobs. Currently, Daimler Portland has 800 direct production staff including 2,100 at its headquarters and adjacent facilities and another 2,000 contract staff.
Daimler has already invested $200 million to build out its Swan Island headquarters in North Portland. The company was a beneficiary of the City of Portland’s Enterprise Zone program, which provides property tax exemptions designed to encourage business growth.
To enable rapid scale-up of thoroughly tested and validated electric vehicles, Daimler will begin converting the Portland manufacturing plant to produce electric Freightliners. The Freightliner eM2 truck is an electrified version of the brand’s popular medium-duty truck designed for local distribution, food and beverage delivery, and last-mile logistics applications. The Freightliner eCascadia, based on the best-selling heavy-duty truck in the U.S., is a Class 8 tractor designed for local and regional distribution and drayage. Both trucks are planned for series production in late 2021.
The Portland Manufacturing Plant, long a staple of Swan Island, lies just blocks from Daimler’s LEED Platinum headquarters. Plant renovations begin next year. Daimler based its decision to bring electric vehicle production to Portland on multiple factors, including proximity to Daimler’s North American headquarters. In addition to production, research and development and corporate headquarters, Portland will be home to a battery storage facility and an electric vehicle co-creation center, where the e-consulting team will collaborate with customers.
Daimler’s investment and expansion affirm the value of Portland’s assets in local innovation and its global reputation for building a stronger, green-city economy that benefits all Portlanders.
Daimler source: https://daimler-trucksnorthamerica.com/company/newsroom/PressDetail/dtna-ceo-declares-path-to-zero-emission-2019-04-24
