Daimler Truck Presents Autonomous Freightliner eCascadia

Daimler Truck brings together two pioneering and promising technologies to realize the vision – battery-electric drive and autonomous driving – for the first time in a technology carrier: the autonomous Freightliner eCascadia. The truck is based on the North American series model of the battery-electric Freightliner eCascadia and is equipped with the autonomous driving software from Torc Robotics, as well as state-of-the-art sensors and computer technology.

(Leinfelden-Echterdingen/Portland) These components enable the technology carrier to drive autonomously according to SAE Level 4 at a later stage. Torc Robotics is the independent subsidiary of Daimler Truck for autonomous driving technology. Although it is still a research and pre-development project, Daimler Truck demonstrates the potential to develop autonomous technology into a modular, scalable platform that is independent of the drive technology and can be flexibly used in various truck applications. The goal is to provide customers with a broader vehicle selection for their specific transport requirements and applications in the future for autonomous driving.

“By combining zero-emission and autonomous technologies in one product, we are testing solutions for potential future challenges our customers may face,” said John O’Leary, President and CEO of Daimler Truck North America. “We want to provide them with options that enable them to do what they do best: keep the world moving today and in the future. This requires many years of foresight, questioning, testing, learning, improving, and co-creation with our customers to ultimately find the right solution. This truck is a great example of the beginning of this process.”

Joanna Buttler, Head of Global Autonomous Technology Group, Daimler Truck: “Together with Torc Robotics, we are making significant progress towards the planned introduction of autonomous trucks in the USA in 2027. While we are focusing on autonomous trucks with conventional drive technology for this initial market launch, we are always looking further into the future. We will pursue an iterative approach to the development, testing, and optimization of technologies for autonomous and zero-emission driving, while exploring the most promising use cases together with our fleet customers.”

The Best of Both Worlds

The industry-leading battery-electric Freightliner eCascadia forms the basis for the autonomous technology carrier. The eCascadia model was launched in 2022 and has since covered more than 6 million miles with customers in over 55 fleets in the USA. The zero-emission truck was designed for optimal productivity for fleets looking to transition to efficient, zero-emission tractors. The battery can be charged from zero to 80 percent capacity in just 90 minutes. Various battery and drive axle options are available, offering a typical range of 155, 220, or 230 miles depending on configuration. The Freightliner eCascadia is equipped with the proprietary Detroit ePowertrain, which stands for performance, efficiency, and reliability. For additional safety on the road, the eCascadia also comes standard with the Detroit Assurance safety package, including Active Brake Assist 5.

For the first time, the sensors and computer hardware of the currently testing autonomous Cascadia with diesel drive are now integrated into a compact unit on the battery-electric eCascadia with a short cab for distribution or short-haul traffic. To ensure adequate cooling, the pre-development team developed an advanced cooling concept for the computing unit, which is space-savingly positioned between the driver and passenger seats. Customized software provides the autonomous system with control interfaces and feedback on important vehicle status data. The self-developed cover for the sensor bar, which contains cameras, lidar sensors, and radar sensors, improves aerodynamics and offers better protection against damage and contamination. Four additional 12-volt batteries provide integrated energy storage, ensuring that the virtual driver unit can also be powered and operated with electrical voltage even when the high-voltage batteries are inactive. This ensures uninterrupted autonomous driving operation and increased efficiency and safety.

Drive Possible with Hydrogen

Daimler Truck is committed to exploring and leveraging the potential of new technologies for the benefit of its customers. The company’s goal is to provide them with optimal vehicle solutions through the use of various drive technologies to enable the most suitable and efficient transport of their goods. By developing a drive-independent autonomous truck platform, Daimler Truck is leveraging its combined strengths to positively influence the future of transport.

The autonomous eCascadia technology carrier provides insight into future autonomous use cases, including shorter, dedicated routes and the use of a zero-emission infrastructure. Depending on the application, future autonomous trucks could also be powered by hydrogen.

In the currently prioritized hub-to-hub application, the truck drives autonomously between freight centers along US highway corridors. In a possible future scenario, charging infrastructure and autonomous logistics centers could be integrated. The electric charging process could occur simultaneously with the loading process, further increasing efficiency for transport companies.

Many Similarities with the Series Model

The autonomous eCascadia technology carrier shares many similarities with the series model of the Freightliner eCascadia. Synergies in the development process are utilized, and engineering processes are optimized. Additionally, the benefits are increased through simplified maintenance options when customers already have prior experience with the battery-electric eCascadia.

Daimler Truck introduced the Freightliner Inspiration Truck in 2015. This truck was the first licensed autonomous commercial vehicle of SAE Level 2 for public road use in the USA. By 2027, the company aims to bring series-ready autonomous trucks according to SAE Level 4 to the market in the USA. Together with Torc, Daimler Truck has made significant progress and demonstrated that software for autonomous driving can safely handle complex tasks on public roads. For the past year, Torc has been testing the autonomous Freightliner Cascadia truck in real applications with selected logistics companies such as Schneider and C.R. England. The customers’ freight is successfully transported autonomously on the test route between Phoenix, Arizona, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Revenue of More than 3 Billion Euros Planned by 2030

Daimler Truck aims to capitalize on the highly scalable and highly profitable market opportunities of autonomous driving and plans to achieve revenue of more than 3 billion euros and EBIT of over 1 billion euros from autonomous driving by 2030.

Photo: © Daimler Truck