Zooming ahead

Mercedes-Benz eActros all-electric truck handed over 10 of them to patrons in Germany and Switzerland for testing under real-world condition and it was a roaring success.

The eActros “innovation fleet”, which was conducted in autumn of 2018, customers, were receiving 18- and 25-tonne trucks to test out in tough-real-time situations.

The evaluation of tens of thousands of kilometres driven by customers as well as a close exchange with drivers, dispatchers and fleet managers have enabled the experts at Mercedes-Benz Trucks to gain numerous findings.

These flow directly into the further development of the eActros toward series production, which is due to commence in 2021. Overall, feedback and test results demonstrate that with the Mercedes-Benz eActros, heavy-duty short-radius distribution already possible with local zero emissions and quiet operation.

Mercedes-Benz Trucks presented a progress report on the “innovation fleet” at an event in Wörth on Rhine. For the next step, some 10 more customers will each take delivery of a first-phase eActros for further one-year-long trials.

Andreas von Wallfeld, head of marketing, sales and services at Mercedes-Benz Trucks, said: “We’re absolutely on the right track with the concept behind the Mercedes-Benz eActros. For me, this is the key finding after more than a year of extremely intensive real-world trials with our battery-electric heavy-duty short-radius distribution truck. I’m extremely thankful to our customers, whose active support is making a highly valuable contribution on the road to series production of the vehicle.”

One of the many new findings from the practical tests is that the range of up to 200km of the eActros is a realistic figure – regardless of payload, route or topography. In terms of availability and performance, it is in no way inferior to a conventional diesel-engined truck in urban traffic, on freeways or in overland traffic. The cooling system for the cargo and the air-conditioning system – both electrically operated – functioned perfectly not only during this year’s very hot summer but also at low winter temperatures. Drivers are very impressed by the continuously available torque across the entire speed range and particularly also by the vehicle’s quiet operation and the pleasant, smooth driving experience. In addition, if the driver adopts an anticipatory driving style, electric energy can be recovered through recuperation, involving braking of the motors. This makes it seldom necessary to operate the brake pedal.