This was announced at the International Press Workshop, held in Frankfurt, Germany, in June 2024. The event, which typically takes place three or four months before the IAA, gives selected media a sneak peek at what companies will exhibit at the fair. Company CEOs also give presentations on product developments, future technology and trends.
As is always the case, we were the only South African media outlet that was invited to the workshop – and so we gained unique insight.
The first speaker at this year’s workshop was Karin Rådström, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Trucks, who announced the launch of TruckCharge.
Rolling out EVs can be tricky
More and more electric trucks are being launched – both locally and overseas. For instance, Daimler launched its battery-electric trucks in South Africa last month.
But as any operator who has moved to EVs will confirm, transitioning from trucks with internal combustion engines (ICE) to EVs can be tricky. Operators need charging stations (including high-power fast chargers for quick turnaround times). The local electrical grid must be capable of handling the increased demand from charging multiple trucks simultaneously. Depot facilities may need to be upgraded to support overnight charging of fleets.
Routes may need to be adjusted based on the range and charging infrastructure availability. Operators need to consider downtime for charging, and incorporate charging times into schedules to ensure minimal disruption to their operations. Drivers and maintenance personnel need training on EV operations and safety. While EVs generally require less maintenance, specific training and equipment are necessary for tasks such as battery management.
Then, of course, there is the critical management of the batteries. It’s important to understand the lifespan and degradation patterns of EV batteries. Planning for the end-of-life recycling or the disposal of batteries is also vital.
Enter TruckCharge
TruckCharge – which will bring together Daimler Truck’s current and future EV infrastructure and electric truck charging solutions – will support operators in many of these areas. This new brand will provide comprehensive services to truck customers who buy EVs – including consulting, hardware, and digital solutions.
“When it comes to emissions, we are part of the problem. Commercial vehicles account for 7% of global CO₂ emissions. We also want to also be part of the solution. We want to make e-mobility simple and profitable for our customers – also beyond the purchase of electric trucks. With TruckCharge, we are now bundling our range of solutions under one brand and plan to continuously expand the portfolio,” explained Rådström.
Supporting all EVs
Truck operators often have a variety of brands within their fleets. Accordingly, TruckCharge will support a wide range of truck brands, not just Daimler Truck’s EVs.
TruckCharge is targeted not only at truck fleet operators but also at industrial companies with their own or an outsourced truck fleet.
Bringing down TCO
One of the goals of TruckCharge is to improve the total cost of ownership (TCO) for fleet operators. Of course, the services rendered by the new brand have been available for some time. Daimler experts have already been providing assistance to customers when it comes to electrifying their fleets and depots.
However, in future, the e-mobility services will all be bundled under the TruckCharge brand. Specific services that will be provided by TruckCharge include:
- Consulting on electric trucks
- Planning, building, and designing depot charging infrastructure, alongside grid connection
- Identifying public funding opportunities for infrastructure and vehicles
- Payment functions for public charging
Daimler Truck also offers its customers the possibility to purchase fast-charging stations from its dealerships. The “Depot Charging” package includes consulting, hardware sales and technical service as well as financing solutions from Daimler Truck Financial Services for the charging infrastructure. In addition, qualified Daimler Truck partners will carry out the installation.
South African launch
TruckCharge will be launched in South Africa in future. However, according to Maretha Gerber, President & Group CEO of Daimler Truck Southern Africa, the selection of potential local partners, the training of key personnel and the set-up of the necessary service support for customers are still under investigation. “As such, Daimler Truck Southern Africa will not launch TruckCharge at the same time as Europe this September,” she says.
We are sure that operators will welcome the service when it does launch here in time to come.
Resources and references:
- NAFA Fleet Management Association
- International Energy Agency (IEA)
- McKinsey & Company
