Portland, Oregon – Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) has introduced another natural gas-powered truck, the Freightliner Business Class M2 112 NG. In the mid of July, the first five tractors were delivered to various licensed motor carriers for utilization in drayage fleets in the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.
The delivery of the extremely low-emission trucks is an important step in California’s publicly supported Clean Truck Program, which is intended to remove older trucks with high emissions levels in ports such those at Los Angeles and Long Beach. The deployment of the environmentally friendly trucks will quickly improve air quality at the ports, while also ensuring compliance with stringent emission standards and setting new benchmarks in harbor drayage. Natural gas offers also economical benefits. The natural gas technology can save an estimated $6,000 (about €4,300) in annual fuel and operating costs per truck.
In addition to port operations, the Freightliner Business Class M2 112 NG is also ideally suited for utilities and municipalities. “The Freightliner Business Class M2 112 is a versatile and hard-working truck, and adding a natural gas option further enhances its efficiency,” says Melissa Clausen, Director of Product Marketing for the Freightliner brand. “Natural gas technology in commercial vehicles has come a long way and been very successful. Buses have been using it for years, but the next generation of natural gas drive systems have more power because less air is needed for combustion,” says Clausen. “The technology simply burns cleaner.”
The 8.9-liter engine is supplied by Cummins Westport, a manufacturer of alternative-fuel engines based in Vancouver, Canada. The cooled-exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) engine offers the lowest emissions available in the industry without sacrificing top-level performance and efficiency. “By launching the new Freightliner Business Class M2 112 NG, DTNA will be able to provide customers with clean, economical gas power for a wide range of applications,” says Roe East, President of Cummins Westport, who is delighted about the collaboration with DTNA.
An additional 25 vehicles are scheduled to roll off the line of the DTNA plant in Mt. Holly, North Carolina, in September. These tractors will also be delivered to Los Angeles for deployment in drayage fleets.
“As part of the Shaping Future Transportation initiative, we will continue to develop and offer reliable trucks with both economic and environmental benefits,” says Clausen. With the Shaping Future Transportation initiative for commercial vehicles, Daimler’s objective is to use clean and efficient drive systems along with alternative fuels to realize zero-emission commercial vehicles for tomorrow’s transportation needs. The initiative includes using resources sparingly and reducing emissions of every kind while at the same time guaranteeing maximum traffic safety.
Freightliner Trucks is a division of Daimler Trucks North America with headquarters in Portland, Oregon, and is the leading heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America.About Daimler
Daimler AG, Stuttgart, with its businesses Mercedes-Benz Cars, Daimler Trucks, Daimler Financial Services, Mercedes-Benz Vans and Daimler Buses, is a globally leading producer of premium passenger cars and the global market leader of heavy- and medium-duty trucks as well as buses. The Daimler Financial Services division has a broad offering of financial services, including vehicle financing, leasing, insurance and fleet management. Daimler sells its products in nearly all the countries of the world and has production facilities on five continents. The company’s founders, Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz, continued to make automotive history following their invention of the automobile in 1886. As an automotive pioneer, Daimler and its employees willingly accept an obligation to act responsibly towards society and the environment and to shape the future of safe and sustainable mobility with groundbreaking technologies and high-quality products. The current brand portfolio includes the world’s most valuable automobile brand, Mercedes-Benz, as well as smart, AMG, Maybach, Freightliner, Western Star, Mitsubishi Fuso, Setra, Orion and Thomas Built Buses. The company is listed on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt, New York and Stuttgart (stock exchange abbreviation DAI). In 2008, the Group sold 2.1 million vehicles and employed a workforce of over 270,000 people; revenue totaled €95.9 billion and EBIT amounted to €2.7 billion. Daimler is an automotive Group with a commitment to excellence, and aims to achieve sustainable growth and industry-leading profitability.