Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ eActros LongHaul concept prototype for heavy-duty long-distance transport has won the 2023 Truck Innovation Award.
It was recently handed over to Mercedes-Benz Trucks chief executive Karin Rådström at the IAA Transportation event in Hanover, Germany.
The award acknowledges the enormous technological changes and energy transition within the automotive sector.
It was presented by the International Truck of the Year (IToY) jury comprising 25 commercial vehicle editors and senior journalists representing major trucking magazines from Europe and South Africa.
With a winning score of 112 votes, Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ battery-electric truck fought off the competition from ZF eTrailer, the full-electric Volta Trucks Zero range, and Faun Enginius fuel-cell powered vehicles.
The IToY journalists praised the advanced characteristics of the eActros LongHaul, which employs fast-charging long-service life lithium-iron phosphate cell technology (LFP), and the speed of Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ R&D process.
Announced for the first time in 2020, the eActros LongHaul is already undergoing intensive testing and will hit public roads this year. Near-production prototypes will go to customers for real-world use testing in 2023.
The IToY journalists also appreciated the compact dimensions of the tractor unit, which, within a wheelbase of four meters, accommodates three battery packs with a total installed capacity of over 600kWh and two electric motors, as part of a new e-axle, with a continuous output of 400kW.
Summing up the jury vote, IToY chairman Gianenrico Griffini says the eActros LongHaul “opens a new chapter towards e-mobility”.
“It’s proof that the transition to CO2-neutral long-haul transport is an achievable target, relying on hi-tech solutions and continuous R&D efforts.”
According to IToY rules, a Truck Innovation Award nominee must be an advanced-technology vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of over 3.5 tonnes fitted with an alternative driveline or fuel system.
Otherwise, it must feature specific high-tech solutions concerning connectivity (semi or fully autonomous driving systems), platooning capability, or advanced support services such as remote diagnostics.
