Daimler Truck North America introduced a $650 million three way partnership to develop charging and hydrogen-fueling infrastructure for medium-duty and heavy-duty business vehicles.

Known as Greenlane, the three way partnership was began in 2022 by Daimler, utility NextEra Vitality Assets, and funding agency BlackRock Alternate options. It plans so as to add charging stations and hydrogen stations alongside “varied freight routes,” alongside the coasts and in Texas, beginning with a Southern California web site, in keeping with a Daimler press launch.

The precise location and opening date will likely be revealed at a later time, however it could be no coincidence that the corporate introduced this intent to “forge forward” with the brand new mission the identical day that the Senate voted to dam the encouragement of extra electrical vehicles by rescinding tighter EPA guidelines—and only a couple days earlier than California voted to undertake its personal Superior Clear Fleets guidelines in favor of extra electrical vehicles.

Daimler did not supply any specifics on the variety of websites, or the cut up between EV charging and hydrogen dishing out, however it mentioned the preliminary focus will likely be on EV charging. Hydrogen stations will comply with, together with entry for light-duty automobiles to the websites, the corporate mentioned.

Rendering of proposed Daimler Vans Greenlane charging and hydrogen fueling web site.

Some charging and/or hydrogen websites will likely be co-located with present infrastructure, whereas others will likely be new greenfield development. Daimler can also be creating “a customized, business car reservation platform” for customers.

Word that Mercedes-Benz early this 12 months introduced its personal charging community for vehicles and light-weight vehicles. However with the cut up of Mercedes Vehicles and Daimler Vans, these are solely separate enterprise ventures.

Daimler Vans has already taken some necessary steps towards a charging community for vehicles, although. With the formalization of the Megawatt Charging Commonplace (MCS) final 12 months, it rolled out one of many first megawatt-capable charging stations using the MCS connector, close to its North American headquarters in Portland.

Readying the station for that degree of charging was an early take a look at for what charging stations everywhere in the nation might want to put together for. As an example if 10 electrical heavy-duty vehicles had been charging at one megawatt at a big truck charging station, the full load is identical as a big industrial plant. 

Rendering of proposed Daimler Vans Greenlane charging and hydrogen fueling web site.

Tesla, in the meantime, is not anticipated to make use of the MCS connector and is as an alternative choosing its personal V4 Supercharger normal. Tesla Semi manufacturing began in late 2022, however the firm does not envision a large-scale public charging community just like the Supercharger community that continues to be a trump card for Tesla’s passenger-car enterprise.

Utilities, corporations, and different stakeholders allied in 2020 to create a West Coast electrical freeway for business vehicles, so it is going to be attention-grabbing to see if this effort parallels it or works in tandem. Will electrical truck operators touring via California, Oregon, and Washington quickly have a number of charging choices the place none presently exist?