Daimler Trucks North America is going to shift its Portland plant to making electric Freightliner trucks by 2021.
The company had initially indicated that it would be manufacturing the product at its plant in North Carolina but shifted that stance recently, indicating that the Pacific Northwest was a better locale for the brand.
Roger Nielsen, the chief executive for Daimler Trucks, made the announcement at an industry event in Long Beach, adding that the company will have 50 battery-driven electric trucks operating as a test run in the United States in 2020.
“The road to emissions-free transportation is going to be driven with battery-electric vehicles. I believe the future is electric,” he said.
Nielsen also indicated that the change of plans from North Carolina to Oregon was made due, in large part, to the proximity to the California market where increasing air-quality standards are increasing the demand for zero-emission commercial vehicles.
In 2018, Daimler unveiled its electric truck with a range of 250 miles and an 80 percent recharge speed of 90 minutes.
The company also added that the Portland plant will also include a battery storage facility as well as a sales and education program that will help to educate customers as to how they can better integrate electric trucks into the current fleets.
