Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) and Salem Carriers, a dedicated contract logistics company, announced their collaboration to electrify DTNA’s inbound logistics operations at the Salem Carriers hub near Charlotte, North Carolina.
This initiative is the latest effort in DTNA’s journey to electrify its logistics operations, building on previous integrations in the Pacific Northwest and Mexico. Daimler Truck Financial Services (DTFS) is involved in the project, partnering with Electrada, a fleet electrification solutions company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Together, they provide an all-in-one Charging-as-a-Service (CaaS) solution with a fixed and predictable monthly rate. This solution covers the development, operation, and maintenance of the charging infrastructure, and the energy contract.
This ambitious initiative underscores a shared commitment to fostering sustainable transportation. Salem Carriers, which services DTNA’s inbound logistics network in the Carolinas, plays a crucial role in connecting manufacturing sites, supply chain hubs, and supplier locations. They deployed DTNA’s Freightliner eCascadia vehicles for daily inbound logistics routes.
These operations are made possible through the strategic partnership with Electrada and DTFS to provide a full-scale depot electrification effort, aligned with DTNA’s goal to implement electric mobility solutions throughout its operations.
The CaaS solution for Salem includes deployment, ownership, operation, and energy management of the fleet charging infrastructure at Salem’s Statesville, North Carolina depot, complemented by en-route top-off charging at the unique Duke Energy/Electrada mobility microgrid in Mt. Holly, North Carolina. DTFS serves as the catalyst by reducing entry barriers with the new CaaS solution; integrating the vehicle lease, electric service program, insurance, and other key components into a unified, predictable cost structure for Salem.
Highlights of the initiative include:
- Continued electrification of inbound logistics: Building on previous DTNA initiatives in the Pacific Northwest and Mexico, the collaboration with Salem facilitates the integration of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) into DTNA's supply chain, reinforcing the company’s sustainability pledge. This mirrors Daimler Truck’s successful sustainable transportation initiative in Germany in 2023.
- First CaaS Project Deployment for DTFS with Electrada: The partnership with Electrada marks a significant milestone as DTFS’s inaugural implementation of CaaS, establishing a model for future electrification efforts.
- Shift Towards Service-Level Agreement backed CaaS Solutions for Depot Electrification: A performance-backed CaaS model for depot electrification is recognized as the most reliable approach for critical transport operations.
- Custom electric service program: A tailored electric service program caters to specific operational needs and duty cycles for Salem’s DTNA operations, ensuring energy cost stability throughout the partnership.
- Integration with Duke Energy Microgrid: Located adjacent to DTNA’s eastern U.S. manufacturing facility, the Duke Energy/Electrada mobility microgrid will provide Salem with reliability-guaranteed electric fuel. This microgrid is supported by the nation’s first and most flexible utility-partnered setup, featuring solar generation, stationary energy storage capacity and best-in-class energy management applications.
By collaborating to create a robust charging infrastructure, we pave the way toward a cleaner, and more sustainable future, addressing the challenges that come with the transition to ZEVs. Electrification initiatives, like this one, provide direct support helping to build confidence and scale.
In line with its sustainability goals, DTNA aims to achieve carbon neutrality for all new products and services from direct suppliers in Europe, the United States, and Japan by 2039. As early as 2020, the Portland Truck Manufacturing Plant, where the Freightliner eCascadia and eM2 are built, achieved CO₂-neutral production by reducing energy consumption and offsetting on-site emissions.
DTNA plans to achieve CO₂-neutral production at all remaining truck manufacturing plants by 2025. Recognizing the growing importance of product manufacturing emissions within the electric product lifecycle, DTNA is implementing sustainable supply chain measures and views suppliers as partners in its sustainability journey.
In addition, DTNA is proactively developing solutions to optimize the entire lifecycle of the batteries used in its electric trucks. This includes strategies such as repairing, remanufacturing, repurposing, and end-of-life recycling.
Filed Under: Technology News