The delivery of the 1,000th Freightliner natural gas vehicle underlines the acceptance of green technologies by customers of Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) and makes the company the first commercial vehicle manufacturer to achieve such a milestone for clean, natural gas trucks in North America.
To date, DTNA has handed over a combined total of 3,600 natural gas vehicles to customers. The vehicles come from various DTNA brands, including Freightliner and the school bus manufacturer Thomas Built Buses.
“With our 1,000th natural gas truck, DTNA is the clear market leader in this field throughout the NAFTA region,” says Andreas Renschler, the Daimler Board of Management Member responsible for Daimler Trucks and Daimler Buses. “These types of achievements advance our global Shaping Future Transportation initiative, which represents environmentally friendly and sustainable transport solutions at Daimler Trucks.”
The milestone truck is a compressed natural gas (CNG) variant of the medium-duty Freightliner Business Class M2 112, powered by a Cummins Westport ISL G engine. The cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) engine offers low emissions without sacrificing performance and efficiency.
DTNA presented the milestone natural gas truck to customer Ryder System, Inc. during a ceremony held in Anaheim, California. Ryder is a transportation services provider that leases and manages truck fleets for companies throughout North America, Mexico, Europe, and Asia.
“As a leader in commercial transportation and logistics, Ryder is in a unique position to provide its customers vehicles with alternatively powered engines,” said Scott Perry, VP of supply Management at Ryder Fleet Management Solutions, during the handover ceremony. “Working closely together with DTNA enables us to continue to offer our customers new vehicle technologies that are reliable, cost-effective, and that help them realize their sustainable transportation goals.”
Daimler Trucks North America also significantly advances other types of alternative drive technologies. For example, DTNA celebrated its 1,000th hybrid vehicle—a medium-duty Freightliner Business Class M2 106 Hybrid—earlier this year.
DTNA’s commitment to alternative drive technologies contributes to the implementation of the “Shaping Future Transportation” global initiative, which was launched by Daimler Trucks in 2007. The initiative is focused, among other things, on reducing pollutants, carbon dioxide, and fuel consumption through the utilization of clean, efficient drive systems and alternative fuels.
