Less than two months after completing its split from Mercedes-Benz, Daimler Trucks is already making moves towards an electric future. The truck maker's North American division recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with NextEra Energy Resources and BlackRock Renewable Power.
The MoU pertains to a joint venture (JV) to design, develop, install, and operate a high-performance charging network for medium to heavy-duty battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in the United States.
The three companies plan to start operations this year, while the first charging stations could begin construction by 2023. Funding will reportedly be split by the companies, with each contributing about $216.67 million USD for a total of $650 million USD.
The planned joint venture… is another building block in our global partnership strategy to accelerate the infrastructure required for carbon-neutral commercial transportation. Whether in the US or in Europe, these kinds of collaborations are essential to successfully tackle the urgent need for zero-emission vehicles. [We are] paving the way for a nationwide infrastructure for battery electric and hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles in the US.
This latest JV proves that Daimler Trucks is fully committed to achieving its goals as an independent company. Apart from its new partnership with NextEra and BlackRock, Daimler already enjoys collaborations on electric and hydrogen charging infrastructure with Shell, BP, and TotalEnergies. The company also has existing partnerships with Siemens Smart Infrastructure, ENGIE, EVBox Group, and PowerElectronics.
Over in Europe, Daimler Trucks has a planned JV with Traton and Volvo for a similar wide-ranging high-performance charging network. Notably, a lack of nationwide electric truck charging infrastructures has prevented the US and its European counterparts from completely transitioning to emission-free trucking operations. It would be a massive development if Daimler Trucks and its partners can help solve this problem within the decade.
