Daimler Truck North America Executive Joins U.S. Government’s Electric Vehicle Working Group
PORTLAND, Ore. – Aug. 17, 2023 – Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) is proud to announce that Rakesh Aneja, head of eMobility at DTNA, has been appointed to the newly founded Electric Vehicle Working Group (EVWG) by the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of Transportation.
The EVWG, established by the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, is entrusted with providing vital recommendations to the U.S. Secretaries of Energy and Transportation for integrating light-, medium-, and heavy-duty electric vehicles (EVs) into the U.S. transportation and energy systems. By collaborating closely with federal interagency working groups, especially on fleet conversion, the EVWG aspires to ensure effective coordination and insightful consultation. Furthermore, the group will regularly report on barriers and opportunities to scale up EV adoption to the U.S. Secretaries of Energy and Transportation and key congressional committees, bolstering informed decision-making.
Under the guidance of the U.S. Secretaries of Energy and Transportation, the EVWG comprises 25 members, encompassing 6 federal stakeholders and 19 non-governmental stakeholders. The diversity of these non-governmental participants in terms of their backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints enriches the group's perspective. This array of viewpoints includes representation from geographically diverse regions across the United States, spanning rural, urban, and suburban contexts.
“I am incredibly honored and enthusiastic to accept the invitation to serve as a Committee member of the U.S. Government’s Electric Vehicle Working Group," said Rakesh Aneja, head of eMobility at DTNA. “This is a significant recognition of the strides that DTNA has made in eMobility and underscores our commitment to leading sustainable transportation. I am thrilled to collaborate with this esteemed group and the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation to help shape the future of mobility in the United States.”
DTNA has been a pioneer in commercial electric vehicle development. The company’s portfolio of electric vehicles includes the Jouley, an all-electric bus from Thomas Built Bus, available since 2020, the FCCC MT50e walk-in van chassis for final mile delivery, available since 2021, the Class 8 Freightliner eCascadias, available since 2022, and the eagerly anticipated Freightliner eM2, set to debut later this year. Beyond vehicle manufacturing, DTNA is proactively fostering the transition to zero-emission commercial vehicles, including infrastructure and holistic ecosystem initiatives. The company's "Electric Island," established in collaboration with Portland General Electric in 2021, stands as the first-of-its-kind commercial vehicle charging site, driving the development, testing, and deployment of zero-emission commercial vehicles. In partnership with NextEra Energy and Blackrock Alternatives, DTNA has made substantial investments through the Greenlane joint venture launched in April 2023, further addressing the urgent need for a publicly available, nationwide electric charging infrastructure for commercial vehicles.
As the nation's leading manufacturer of Class 6-8 commercial vehicles, DTNA has a storied history of collaborating with a myriad of stakeholders, including federal and state regulatory agencies. This collaborative ethos is directed toward bolstering U.S. competitiveness and achieving shared goals of improved fleet efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The company remains steadfast in its long-term ambition to transition all new vehicle sales to exclusively carbon-neutral (in driving operation) by 2039, emphasizing the importance of investing in clean energy and domestic clean energy industries to decarbonize commercial vehicles. By continually advancing sustainable solutions, DTNA remains at the forefront of the electric mobility revolution, galvanizing the industry's transformation towards a cleaner, more sustainable future.
About Daimler Truck North America
Daimler Truck North America LLC, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, is a leading provider of comprehensive products and technologies for the commercial transportation industry. Daimler Truck North America designs, engineers, manufactures and markets medium- and heavy-duty trucks, school buses, vehicle chassis and their associated technologies and components under the Freightliner, Western Star, Thomas Built Buses, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp and Detroit brands. Daimler Truck North America is a subsidiary of Daimler Truck Holding AG (DTG), one of the world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers.
Media Contact, Anja Weinert, anja.weinert@daimlertruck.com
