Mercedes Unveils Heavy Duty BEV Truck

Mercedes-Benz Trucks has revealed the production version of its first battery-electric long-haul truck at a world premier event south of Hamburg, Germany.

The Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 boasts a battery capacity of more than 600 kWh and a new electric drive axle, developed in-house, helping the e-truck claim a range of 310 miles (499 km) without intermediate charging. In line with mandatory driver breaks, the automaker claims the vehicle will, therefore, be able to travel significantly more than 620 miles (1,000 km) per day even without megawatt charging.

It adds that about 60% of long-distance journeys of by its customers in Europe are shorter than 310 miles, which means charging infrastructure at the depot and at loading and unloading points is usually sufficient.

In addition to CCS charging with up to 400 kW, the eActros 600 will later also enable megawatt charging (MCS). From the start of sales, customers can order a pre-installation for this. As soon as MCS technology becomes available and is standardized across manufacturers, it is planned to be retrofittable for this model. Batteries can be charged from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes at a suitable charging station with an output of one megawatt.

The eActros 600 has three battery packs, each with 207 kWh. These offer an installed total capacity of 621 kWh. The batteries are based on lithium iron phosphate cell technology (LFP) and claim a long service life. The automaker says this adds up to 745,645 miles (1.2 million km) in 10 years of operation. After this period of use, the battery state of health should still be over 80%. Moreover, in contrast to other battery cell technologies, approximately 95% of the installed capacity can be used with LFP technology claiming a higher range with the same installed battery capacity.

Mercedes-Benz Trucks has developed a new 800V electric axle with two electric motors and a four-speed transmission specifically for use in heavy-duty long-haul transport. The electric motors generate a continuous output of 400 kW as well as a peak output of 600 kW and provide acceleration, driving comfort and driving dynamics. The full motor output is available most of the time with no interruption in torque.

The vehicle is designed for a gross combination weight of up to 44 tons. With a standard semi-trailer, the eActros 600 has a payload of around 22 tons in the EU. In some cases, national law may permit a higher payload.

Sales of the electric truck start this year with the start of series production planned for the end of 2024. In addition to the tractor unit, Mercedes-Benz Trucks will also produce rigid variants of the eActros 600 from market launch. A fleet of around 50 prototype vehicles is currently being built, some of which are also to be put into practical testing with customers in a next step.

Karin Rådström, CEO Mercedes-Benz Trucks, said: “The eActros 600 stands for the transformation of road freight transport towards CO2-neutrality like no other truck with a three-pointed star. It is characterized by highly innovative drive technology that can offer our customers particularly high energy efficiency and thus profitability. This makes entry into e-mobility even more attractive for fleet operators.”