Sometimes lost in the sexiness of new EVs is the commercial sector, which would also benefit from going electric. Now, three large truck companies have formed a group to develop batteries in the United States.
Accelera by Cummins (the diesel engine brand’s EV division), Daimler and Paccar will each own 30 per cent of a joint venture with the goal to ‘accelerate and localize battery cell production and the battery supply chain in the United States’, specifically for larger commercial trucks. EVE Energy will be the technology partner, with a 10 per cent share.
Total investment is expected to be in the range of US$2-3 billion for the 21-gigawatt hour (GWh) factory. While there is no information on where the facility will be, or when it will open, the plan is to focus on lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries, which the companies say will be less expensive and have a longer life without the use of nickel and cobalt like the usual lithium ion packs.
Martin Daum, CEO of Daimler Truck says: “For Daimler Truck, partnerships and a strict focus on costs and smart capital allocation are the key levers to succeed on the path towards sustainable transportation. This planned joint venture enables economies of scale beyond Daimler Truck. It is a key puzzle piece of our battery industrialization strategy, ensuring access to the right battery cell technology at the right cost.”
