Daimler rolls out its first driverless electric semi

Daimler Truck AG has presented a fully autonomous semi based on the Freightliner eCascadia. It is little more than a technology showcase and a mobile test platform at this point, but by the end of the decade, the corporation hopes to begin mass-producing driverless freighters.

The prototype seen here features a large array of cameras, radars and LiDARs connected to form a single unit. An actively cooled computational mainframe located in the cabin handles all data processing. The semi features a special low-drag profile and carries four additional 12V battery packs designed to supply emergency power to all systems even if the traction battery suddenly cuts off. It is said to correspond to SAE Level 4 in terms of driving autonomy.

As for the all-electric Freightliner eCascadia, it debuted two years ago and was marketed as a semi for short-range highway-based shipments. It came with three battery pack options rated from 250 to 370 km (from 155 to 230 miles). An hour and a half of charging is enough to get any of these three batteries to 80%.

By testing and improving this design, Daimler Truck hopes to come up with a scalable modular architecture suitable for producing freighters of all drive configurations and sizes. According to the strategy currently adopted by the company, the mass production of autonomous commercial transports will begin in 2027.