Daimler Trucks North America has delivered its first all-electric vehicle to Penske Truck Leasing in southern California.
Roger Nielsen, president and CEO of DTNA, handed over the keys of the Freightliner eM2 to Brian Hard, president and CEO of Penske Truck Leasing, during an event in Carson, CA.
“With increased hauling demands and regulatory pressures, combined with ongoing concerns over energy resource depletion, it is more important than ever that DTNA continues to rigorously test and research electric vehicle solutions together with our customers,” said Nielsen.
“Penske is honored to be the first company to put this new medium-duty electric truck into service,” said Hard. Penske is committed to providing the most effective vehicle technologies to our customers and driving innovation and sustainability when it comes to mobility.”
Penske Truck Leasing plans to install 20 high-power charging stations across five of its California locations. Next year, Penske will put an additional nine medium-duty electric eM2 trucks and 10 heavy-duty eCascadia electric trucks into service in California and the Pacific Northwest.
The eM2 is part of the Freightliner Electric Innovation Fleet, which is partially funded with a nearly $16 million grant from the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
Judy Mitchell, a governing board member at the district, was on hand for ceremony and said "SCAQMD is proud to be a part of this innovative and ground-breaking project and we look forward to seeing some positive results from these efforts in the coming year.”
Following the ceremony, the keys to the eM2 were turned over to Santa Claus to make its first holiday delivery of native plant seedlings to help restore communities that continue to suffer from recent wildfire damage.
