Daimler unveils new Rizon electric trucks for U.S. market
With the introduction of the new Rizon brand of medium-duty electric trucks by Daimler Truck, Freightliner and Western Star now have a new brother in the United States.
The exclusive distributor of the Class 4-5 vehicle configurations will be Velocity Vehicle Group, which will also provide maintenance, AC and DC charging consulting, and financing through Daimler Truck Financial Services.
Among the potential uses for the vehicles with 175- and 187-inch wheelbases are dry vans, flatbeds, landscape dumps, and refrigeration units, according to Daimler Truck in a webcast unveiling.
There will be three Rizon variants available, with gross vehicle weights ranging from 15,995 to 17,995 lb and different operational ranges. The 83-kWh e16M will have a range of 75 to 100 miles (121 to 161 km) supported by two battery packs, while the 124-kWh e18L and e16L will have ranges of 110 to 160 miles (177 to 258 km) with three battery packs.
Batteries can be recharged using CCS1 DC fast chargers or Level 2 AC chargers, and they will be positioned below the frame and secured by a safety frame to prevent side collisions.
The eAxle that generates the motion replaces the manual driveline with a prop shaft by fusing the electric drive module, inverter, and gearbox into a single component.
The OEM will offer Active Brake Assist, Active Side Assist, Lane Departure Warnings, and other safety features. Factory-installed telematics will be used to deliver data. Another choice is to have an ePTO installed at the manufacture.
The high-voltage batteries are protected for five years and 120,000 miles (193,000 km), while the proprietary powertrain, chassis, and cab are covered for five years and 75,000 miles (120,000 km).
Velocity Vehicle Group
Velocity, which has 80 locations scattered across the United States, Mexico, and Australia, will be appointing additional Rizon dealers in U.S. states outside the current catchment regions of the dealership group. By the end of 2023, partners in Texas and the northeast will join current locations in the southwest and southeast of the United States. At that time, the combined network will also have more than 50 150-kW charging stations from Detroit eFill and Siemens.
"By assisting the Southern California innovation fleets, we worked with Daimler Truck early on in the development stages of the Freightliner eCascadia and the eM2. And we've been using electric vehicles in our own fleet," said Brad Fauvre, president of Velocity Vehicle Group. I've also maintained every vehicle, from the first trial projects to the ones that are still in use today.
When utilizing grants offered in California, up-front costs will be comparable to diesel-powered Class 4 and 5 units, he added.
The initial rollouts of the first units will take place in Southern California, Los Angeles, and San Diego during the fourth quarter of 2023.
"We know this is a very demanding segment," said Andreas Deuschle, president of Rizon International. "The Rizon brand was created with business in mind. We intended to address the particular requirements of that market sector, which differs from long-distance transportation. As opposed to heavy-duty uses, this is different.
This represents a very novel experience in that market, setting the bar for product differentiation to be extraordinarily high.