Daimler Trucks & Buses is investing in electric bus and transport company Proterra Inc.
In conjunction with the investment, Proterra and Daimler have entered into an agreement to explore the electrification of select Daimler heavy-duty vehicles. The first of these efforts will be to explore potential synergies with Daimler’s Thomas Built Buses division by bringing Proterra’s battery and drivetrain technologies to the North American school bus market.
According to the companies, school buses offer an excellent use case for vehicle electrification, as most school buses travel a predictable distance per day that is well within the capability of Proterra’s EV technology. The companies say that this collaboration has the potential to provide reliable, affordable transportation options with environmentally sustainable, zero-emission EV technology.
“We started working on electric trucks and buses at a very early stage and we aim to set the standards here in each relevant segment,” said Martin Daum, member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG with responsibility for Daimler Trucks & Buses. “We expect the cooperation with Proterra to deliver additional impetus for the development of heavy-duty commercial vehicles with electric drive. In this way, we are broadening our scope in particular concerning the key technology of the battery, also with regard to North America.”
