An all-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 has completed the 1,378 km route from John O’Groats to Land’s End in just over 24 hours, using three charging stops along the way. According to the company, this is the first time an electric HGV has covered the distance within such a timeframe.
The run began on 3 December in Scotland and concluded the following day at the southern tip of England. Charging stops were made in Stirling, Sandbach and Exeter, with the vehicle reportedly achieving an average efficiency of 1.175 km/kWh and a single-charge range of 510 km.
Mercedes-Benz Trucks says the eActros 600 travelled entirely on renewable electricity. Based on the manufacturer’s figures, the 39.5-tonne truck avoided around 1,042 kg of CO₂, which they state is comparable to more than three years of an average UK household’s electricity-related emissions.
Supporting a UK driver wellbeing charity
The journey also aimed to raise visibility for Globe Truckers UK, a charity focused on supporting drivers affected by injury and promoting mental health within the haulage sector. Donations are being collected online.
Driver Ali Colquhoun, who took the first leg, said the team wanted to show what an electric long-haul operation can look like under real-world conditions. Nick Ford of Daimler Truck UK added that the run demonstrates what electric long-haul trucks are already capable of in the UK.
Globe Truckers UK CEO Andy Tustian said the event provided national exposure for the organisation’s work within the HGV community.
The eActros 600, recently named International Truck of the Year 2025, has a claimed range of more than 500 km per charge. The truck is equipped with a 600 kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery, which can be recharged from 20% to 80% in approximately 25 minutes using megawatt charging (MCS).
