Mercedes-Benz Trucks Reveals its eActros Zero Emissions Electric Truck for Europe

author: FutureCar Staff    

In 2016, Mercedes-Benz was the first vehicle manufacturer worldwide to announce plans to build an electric heavy truck. Now its just been unveiled in its production form. Mercedes-Benz Trucks on Tuesday revealed its new battery-electric eActros electric delivery truck for the European market. 

The eActro is the first, zero-emissions, commercial electric truck from Mercedes Benz and will help the EU to reach its climate and emissions goals.

"We have to acknowledge that transport is a part of the problem when it comes to climate change. At the same time, we can and we will be part of the solution," said Karin Rådström, Member of the Board of Management at Daimler Truck AG.

The electric eActros has been in the works for the past five years. Mercedes-Benz Trucks first showed off a concept version at the IAA 2016 for Commercial Vehicles in Hanover. 

The company started testing a fleet of ten eActros prototypes in 2018 with customers in Germany and other European countries. The fleet has traveled over 500,000 km on public roads. For the production version, Mercedes Benz Trucks said it made continuous improvements in its design based on feedback from customers that are using it in everyday transport operations.

"Development of the eActros focussed on the partnership with our customers. Everything that we learned from the innovation fleet is now being incorporated in series production. Compared with the prototypes, several features such as range, drive power and safety have been considerably improved in the series-production model", said Andreas von Wallfeld, Head of Marketing, Sales and Services at Mercedes-Benz Trucks.  

The eActros' electric powertrain consists of a drive unit with two integrated electric motors and a two-speed transmission. 

The electric powertrain of the eActros is also extremely quiet compared to a diesel engine truck, making its especially suitable for nighttime deliveries and operation in cities that are planning to ban highly polluting and noisy diesel-powered trucks.

The truck will be available in four different configurations with 3 or 4 battery packs, which will meet the needs of a wide variety of customers. Each battery has a capacity of around 105 kW. When equipped with 4 batteries, the maximum output is 420 kWh, delivering a range of up to 400 kilometers (248 miles).

The eActros can be charged at rates up to 160 kW when connected to a regular 400A DC charging station. Charging the batteries to 80% takes just over an hour, which will meet the needs of most fleet operators.

"Thus the eActros is perfectly equipped for its daily operations in distribution transport with regard to availability and performance," von Wallfeld said. 

An overview of the eActros electric truck.

In order to assist shipping customers to make the switch to electric trucks, Mercedes-Benz Trucks is offering consultation and services for customers in order to maximize utilization, optimize costs, as well as assist in setting-up suitable charging infrastructure. 

The electric eActros will also feature a high degree of digitization and connectivity, to help fleet operators keep tabs on the vehicles, including state of charge, location and remaining range and other metrics.

The eActros will offer a high level of safety for accident-free driving. Standard safety features include such as MirrorCam, which replaces the side view mirror with cameras, Sideguard Assist S1R, which warns the driver to the presence of pedestrians or cyclists while marking turns, as well as Active Brake Assist (ABA) with pedestrian detection.

The images produced by the two side cameras have a resolution of 720 x 1920 pixels. The images are displayed on two 15.2-inch screens mounted to the A-pillars in the cabin.

The series production model will be produced in Mercedes-Benz Trucks' largest truck assembly plant in Wörth am Rhein this fall. The factory is currently being outfitted with a new assembly line for the eActros. 

The eActros electric truck will be available in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Great Britain, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Further markets will follow.

Mercedes Benz is also working on a long-haul hydrogen fuel cell truck for freight delivery called the GenH2. Daimler Trucks unveiled the fuel cell concept truck in Sept 2020. It can travel up to 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) between hydrogen fill ups, which is equal to the range of a conventional diesel-powered truck.

Customer trials of the GenH2 are set to begin in 2023 in Europe, with series production in the second half of this decade.

FutureCar Staff