Daimler Truck North America plans to test powertrain controllers in electric trucks to ensure they can safely handle high-voltage functions and maintain system performance under diverse driving conditions, according to a filing with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
To do so, the company has applied for a five-year exemption for six drivers who hold valid CDLs in Germany, but not in a U.S. state, as required by law. Daimler says the requirements for a German CDL ensure the same level of safety as a domestic CDL, and that those drivers would always be accompanied by a holder of a state-issued CDL.
The drivers would operate commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce to support Daimler’s field tests to develop and optimize the control software that governs the high-voltage function of an EV’s powertrain.
Daimler said testing and validation is crucial for the development of powertrain controllers in electric trucks. In the filing, the company asserts that if the exemption is not granted, it could inhibit future vehicle development and the launch of electric trucks.
Daimler has been making progress since embarking on its electrification journey in 2018, launching the electric Freightliner eCascadia in 2022 and eM2 in 2023, according to its website.
The Class 8 eCascadia has logged over 6 million real-world miles in more than 55 fleets in the U.S. In May, the company teased an autonomous prototype of the eCascadia, which will eventually be used for shorter, repeatable routes with zero-emissions infrastructure.
The FMCSA will determine whether granting the company’s exemption request would likely maintain a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the current regulation.
