Mercedes-Benz Trucks has unveiled the series version battery electric long-haul eActros 600 which, according to the company, is set to replace the majority of diesel trucks in the segment over the long term.
The model made its global debut on October 10 in front of an international audience at an event held near Hamburg, Germany.
Mercedes-Benz says the model promises to “define the new standard in terms of technology, sustainability, design and profitability”. It follows the market launch of the first eActros for heavy-duty distribution transport in 2021.
The eActros 600 features a range of 500km on a single charge and can achieve more than 1000km per day with intermediate charging during legally prescribed driver breaks – even without megawatt-charging, the company says.
The high battery capacity of more than 600 kilowatt hours is where the model gets its designation—it features three battery packs, each with 207kWh. It has a gross combination weight of up to 44 tonnes and a payload of around 22 tonnes with a standard trailer.
Sales for the model will begin this year and series production is expected to begin at the end of 2024.
Mercedes-Benz Trucks chief executive Karin Rådström says 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 characterised 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.”
According to the company, around 60% of long-distance journeys of Mercedes-Benz Trucks customers in Europe are shorter than 500km.
Charging infrastructure at the depot and at the loading and unloading points is sufficient in such cases, it says.
For all other uses, continual expansion of public charging infrastructure “is vital in order to make the electric truck viable for long-distance haulage across Europe”, it adds.
In addition to CCS charging with up to 400kW, the eActros 600 will later also enable megawatt charging (MCS).
As soon as MCS technology becomes available and is standardised across manufacturers, it is planned to be retrofittable for eActros 600 models, the manufacturer says.
The batteries can be charged from 20 to 80% in about 30 minutes with an output of around one megawatt.
In addition to the tractor unit, Mercedes-Benz Trucks will also produce rigid variants. A fleet of around fifty prototype vehicles is currently being built, some of which will be put into practical testing with first customers.
Opportunities for fleet operators
Despite a purchase price that is around two to two-and-a-half times higher than the diesel equivalent, Mercedes-Benz reckons the eActros 600 will soon be able to give fleet operators a competitive edge.
Using France and Germany as an example, Mercedes-Benz estimates the model can be more profitable than a diesel long-haul truck within the average vehicle holding period of around five years or after around 600,000km.
This assumes a low electricity price and a planned CO2-based truck toll to have a positive effect on the operational costs of battery-electric trucks.
“Government subsidisation of e-trucks and charging infrastructure is a key lever providing support in ramping up the market,” it says.
With the current European energy mix, the eActros 600 achieves CO2 savings of around 40% compared to a comparable diesel Actros. With fully renewable energy, it achieves more than 80% over the entire product life cycle of ten years from raw material extraction. This corresponds to savings of around 370 or 775 tons of CO2, the company says.
New tech and design
Mercedes-Benz Trucks developed a new 800-volt 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 400kW as well as a peak output of 600kW.
In terms of design, it features new aerodynamics with a large, completely closed and rounded-off front hood, an optimised bumper and an aerodynamically improved driver access and extended end flaps designed like sails.
