Daimler Truck, one of the world’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturers, has launched a new brand of electric trucks in the US market called Rizon. The brand name is derived from “rise” and “horizon”, reflecting the company’s vision of a sustainable and profitable future for trucking.
Rizon will offer Class 4 and 5 trucks with lithium iron phosphate battery technology and start production in the third quarter of 2023. The trucks will have a range of 75 miles to 160 miles, depending on the battery variant, and will be suitable for urban delivery, landscaping, utility and municipal applications. The trucks will also feature advanced driver assistance systems, telematics and connectivity solutions.
Rizon is part of Daimler Truck’s global strategy to electrify its portfolio and achieve carbon neutrality by 2039. The company has already launched electric trucks under its Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner and Fuso brands in Europe, Asia and North America. Rizon will complement these offerings by focusing on the medium-duty segment, which accounts for about 40% of the US truck market.
Andreas Deuschle, the global head of Rizon, said that the brand aims to offer customers a compelling value proposition by combining high-quality products, competitive total cost of ownership and comprehensive services. He added that Rizon will leverage Daimler Truck’s expertise and experience in electric mobility, as well as its strong dealer network and customer relationships.
In addition to launching Rizon, Daimler Truck also announced a new joint venture with Shell to establish charging and hydrogen fuelling stations for medium- and heavy-duty trucks in the US. The joint venture, called Charge & Fuel America LLC, will invest up to $1 billion over the next five years to build more than 500 fast-charging stations and 50 hydrogen stations across the country. The joint venture will also offer customers access to Shell’s existing network of retail stations and services.
Martin Daum, the CEO of Daimler Truck, said that the joint venture is a milestone in the company’s journey towards zero-emission transportation. He said that Charge & Fuel America will provide customers with reliable and convenient access to clean energy sources and enable them to transition to electric and hydrogen trucks with confidence.
Daimler Truck is confident that Rizon and Charge & Fuel America will help accelerate the adoption of electric trucks in the US market and contribute to the decarbonization of the transport sector. The company believes that electric trucks are not only environmentally friendly, but also economically viable and operationally efficient for customers.
