Proterra and FCCC to jointly develop All-Electric Chassis for electric delivery trucks

Proterra, a leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, and Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) announced a collaboration to develop the MT50e, a new all-electric delivery truck chassis.

The MT50e will be on display at the upcoming NTEA Work Truck Show, in Indianapolis.

Built on FCCC's legendary MT platform, the MT50e will feature a Proterra battery system with 226 kWh of energy capacity and an all-electric, zero-emission drive system. The all-electric chassis can support a GVWR of 16,000 to 23,000 pounds, with no reduction in cargo volume capacity. The vehicle is designed to enable more than 125 miles driving range and can fully charge in three hours with SAE J1772 CCS DC fast charging.

“The new MT-50e blends the earth-friendly and efficient performance of an electric vehicle with the undisputed strength and ruggedness that's made FCCC the most reliable chassis on the market,” said Mike Stark, Product Manager for Commercial Chassis for FCCC. “The MT50e builds on our heritage of technological innovation and propels both us and our customers into an era of zero emissions for last-mile delivery vehicles.”

“Fleet operators are looking to electrify delivery trucks today and there is growing industry interest in a high-performance electric chassis with an energy-dense battery system,” said Proterra CEO Ryan Popple. “The MT50e offers fleet operators an industry-leading vehicle platform that they're familiar with, combined with proven electric vehicle technology and expertise from Proterra.”

Through years of innovative engineering, Proterra has developed high-performance battery systems for commercial vehicle applications. Proterra's EV technology has been proven with more than 10 million service miles to date with its electric transit bus fleet. Today, Proterra is leveraging its industry-leading electric vehicle technology and expertise to help commercial vehicle manufacturers electrify their heavy-duty vehicles, like school buses, coach buses, and now delivery vehicles.

Proterra manufactures high-performance battery systems that have industry-leading energy density for maximum range, a flexible design to fit within a wide variety of vehicles, and a ruggedised commercial grade housing to withstand harsh environments.

Designed from the cell level up for commercial usage, Proterra battery systems' modular designs enable customisable battery pack dimensions that can easily be configured to fit within a variety of heavy-duty vehicle platforms. In addition to industry-leading energy density, Proterra battery systems are manufactured with safety mechanisms built directly into the battery architecture and undergo rigorous testing to ensure they withstand the toughest conditions.

In addition to the electric vehicle components, Proterra also offers high power charging systems that are purpose-built for commercial applications and use standardised technology for interoperability. Proterra charging systems utilise the universal J1772-CCS Type 1 charging standard, enabling operators to utilise Proterra charging systems for a range of battery-electric powered vehicles.

The MT-50e is designed to combine the reliability and durability of FCCC's products with the efficiency and performance of a factory-installed, fully integrated electric power system. Launched as a prototype at the 2019 Work Truck Show, the MT50e is the first planned product in what will be a portfolio of all-electric products for a variety of vocations including pick-up and delivery, baker and linen vocations.