Daimler Truck has marked the series launch of its new battery electric flagship Mercedes-Benz eActros 600.
The long-haul truck has a battery capacity of more than 600 kilowatt hoursand a range of 500 kilometres on a single battery charge.
The truck, which has undergone extensive testing in Europe, is being produced at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth, Germany – the brand’s third battery electric model after the eActros 300/400 and the eEconic.
It is also the first electric truck from Wörth where assembly takes place in one production hall with manufacturing taking place alongside traditional diesel models.
The conversion of the assembly lines as well as the integration of the eActros 600 into line production has taken place gradually, Daimler says.
The previous eActros 300/400 and eEconic electric truck models leave the production hall for the assembly of the electric drive components in order to be electrified at the Future Truck Centre in Wörth.
The Daimler Truck plants in Mannheim, Kassel and Gaggenau also play an important role in the production of the eActros 600. They supply the components required for the battery-electric drive, such as the electric axle, transmission components and the front box, which brings together numerous high-voltage and low-voltage components.
As part of the company’s shift towards emission-free transportation, around 3300 training sessions were held with employees at the Wörth site last year covering battery, high-voltage and hydrogen technologies.
As part of its European testing, Daimler put two eActros 600s on tour with each truck travelling more than 13,000 kilometres with 40 tonnes total towing weight.
The vehicles built in series production over the first few months are primarily being used as demonstration vehicles for company-owned sales and service outlets and dealers, Daimler says.
Daimler Truck chief executive Karin Rådström says the start of eActros 600 series production “is a further proof of our ambition to transform the industry”.
“With a range of 500 kilometres on a single battery charge, our eActros 600 is addressing the long-haul segment in Europe which is responsible for two-thirds of CO2 emissions from heavy road freight.
“Our battery-electric long-haul truck will therefore make a real difference.”
