Food distribution giant Sysco Corp. intends to purchase up to 800 Freightliner eCascadia Class 8 electric trucks from Daimler Truck North America, to date this is the largest order of battery-powered tractors in North America to date.
Reservations account for approximately 80% of the 987 electric trucks ordered worldwide by Daimler Truck worldwide in 2021. And this suggests that the nascent adoption of zero-emission commercial vehicles is shifting to a higher gear.
“This seems to be one of the biggest real orders we’ve seen for electrical semi-finished products,” said Sam Abuelsamid, chief analyst at Guidehouse Insights. “There were quite outrageous statements when Tesla Semi was first announced. But it has not yet been implemented as a real product, when eCascadia actually exists. ”
Usual driving distance for eCascadia: 230 miles
DTNA showed the second generation of eCascadia last week at the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo in Long Beach, California. The truck manufacturer said the typical driving distance on a single charge is 230 miles. It is suitable for local and regional deliveries that Sysco carries to restaurants, hospitals, schools and hotels.
The Houston-based company declined to disclose the cost of the order.
Sysco (NYSE: SYY) is the country’s second largest private park with more than 8,000 class tractors. This protested the first generation Freightliner eCascadia in San Francisco from October 2020 to January 2021 as part of the DTNA Customer Park.
Sysco eCascadia’s initial delivery is expected in Riverside, California, later this year. Early deliveries will be concentrated in California. Other places will be given to trucks in the coming years.
“Sysco is committed to making significant investments to support our climate goals, including those that encourage the development of electric tractors and trailers,” said Marie Robinson, Sysco’s executive vice president and general manager, on Thursday. Sysco’s goal is to reduce direct CO2 emissions by 27% by 2030.
The economy of services is recovering
The order comes when the service economy recovers after a pandemic recession. Over the past two years, the growth in demand for freight has been focused on consumer goods. Now, due to inflation and the few remaining restrictions on COVID, orders for products needed to live and work at home are declining.
Unlike competitor Volvo Trucks in North America, Daimler does not announce individual orders unless the customer does.
Volvo last week at the ACT Expo announced the order of 60 VNR Electrics from NFI Industries. And in March he booked Fr. Order 110 units from Mayersk. Earlier, the international shipping giant ordered from the Swedish startup Einride 300 electric trucks.
Grants and infrastructure
Sysco will start using trucks in California, where significant incentives can offset the initial cost of $ 120,000 or more depending on how the truck is used. A Sysco spokesman did not know how many trucks would be eligible to participate in the hybrid zero-emission truck and bus promotion project (HVIP).
And Sysco declined to discuss the financial terms of the DTNA letter.
DTNA also sells an eFill charger under the Detroit brand and consulting services to help customers navigate the long process of supplying electricity to a customer’s warehouse. Neither DTNA nor Sysco disclose whether Sysco will be taking the supplement.
Sysco Riverside is building charging infrastructure, including solar capacity, to support additional rechargeable electric trucks.
In large commitment to resolve public fees for commercial vehicles DTNA, BlackRock Renewable Power and NextEra Energy Resources are collaborating on a $ 650 million joint venture to produce medium- and high-capacity trucks on electric and hydrogen fuel cells.
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Proven for a million miles Freightliner eCascadia enters production
Charging electric trucks: can infrastructure keep up with demand?
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