Daimler, Walmart team on hybrid truck

The Detroit Diesel DD15-equipped Cascadia features a parallel hybrid system.The Detroit Diesel DD15-equipped Cascadia features a parallel hybrid system.

Daimler Trucks North America LLC and Walmart have teamed to build a hybrid electric Freightliner Cascadia as part of a collaboration to develop green technologies.

Developed for a Walmart spec’d truck, the 72-inch raised roof Detroit Diesel DD15-equipped Cascadia features a parallel hybrid system based on an electrically driven second drive axle. The system uses a lithium-ion-based energy storage and electronic control algorithms that were developed in collaboration with the Daimler Trucks Global Hybrid Center in Japan.

With this advanced hybrid technology, the conventional drivetrain remains completely intact, allowing for high system reliability from the very beginning, DTNA said.

Long-time customer Walmart will work closely with DTNA engineers to create other new products.  

“Walmart is partnering with our suppliers like Daimler Trucks North America to develop technologies that will improve the efficiency and lessen the impact of our operations. These partnerships help to prove out these technologies and speed up the time to market,” said Chris Sultemeier, senior vice president of transportation for Walmart.

“The new advanced engineering partnership with Walmart highlights our commitment to green technologies as well as our desire to work closely with core customers to continue developing alternative fuel vehicles,” said Mark Lampert, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Daimler Trucks North America.

DTNA offers other products powered by alternative technologies, including the Freightliner Business Class M2 106 Hybrid and the Freightliner Business Class M2 112 natural gas lineup.