Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 long-distance electric truck launched with 500km range and 3 batteries

Mercedes-Benz Trucks has launched the production version of the brand’s first all-electric long-haul truck, the eActros 600, for the global market. The company claims that the heavy-duty electric truck defines new standards in road freight transport for electric fleet operators in terms of technology, sustainability, design and profitability.

Electrification of long-haul trucking has been a challenge for manufacturers and fleet operators because battery technology has limitations in meeting the daily operational requirements of commercial trucks, such as GVW payload ratios and the need for frequent charging, which affects vehicle uptime.

But the technology and packaging of electric trucks is changing significantly. Mercedes-Benz's latest 44-tonne (GVW) electric truck has a 22-tonne payload capacity, despite its larger 600KWh battery pack. This allows the truck to offer a range of around 500km on a single charge without having to recharge mid-trip.

Karin Rådström, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Trucks, commented on the new product: “The eActros 600 represents the shift towards CO2 neutrality in road freight transport like no other truck bearing the three-pointed star. It features highly innovative drive technology that offers our customers particularly high energy efficiency and thus increased profitability. This makes the adoption of electric mobility even more attractive for fleet operators.”

Interestingly, the manufacturer claims that even without the megawatt charging (MCS) that will be enabled later in the truck series, the eActros 600 can travel more than 1,000 kilometers per day with intermediate charging. With MCS, the truck can be charged from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes at a charging station with an output of about 1MW.

In terms of battery technology, the eActros 600 has three battery packs, each with a capacity of 207 kWh and a total installed capacity of 621 kWh. The battery is based on lithium iron phosphate battery technology (LFP), which is characterized by a long service life.

According to Mercedes-Benz Trucks, the battery pack can last for 1.2 million kilometers over a 10-year operating period . After this period of use, the battery's state of health should still be above 80 percent. In addition, about 95 percent of the installed capacity can be used for LFP technology compared to other battery technologies. This makes it possible to achieve a higher range with the same battery capacity, the company added.

The eActros 600 will be built on an existing assembly line at the truck assembly plant in Wörth on the Rhine in Germany, where diesel trucks are also produced. The electric drive components will come from Mercedes-Benz plants in Mannheim, Gagner and Kassel.

(Source: Daimler Truck Global New Energy Vehicle Network, Global Energy Storage Network, New Energy Network Comprehensive)