The vehicle was revealed during a world premiere event today in Hamburg.
Mercedes-Benz Trucks claims its new truck model defines the new standard in road freight transport in terms of technology, sustainability, design and profitability.
The vehicle has a battery capacity of over 600 kilowatt hours, as well as an in-house electric drive axle that enables a range of 500 kilometers without intermediate charging. The German truck manufacturer thus states that the eActros 600 can travel over 1,000 kilometers per day when charged during mandatory driver rest breaks.
“Around 60 percent of long-distance journeys of Mercedes-Benz Trucks customers in Europe are shorter than 500 kilometers anyway, which means charging infrastructure at the depot and at the loading and unloading points is sufficient in such cases,” says Mercedes Benz Trucks.
In addition to CCS charging with up to 400 kW, the eActros 600 will later also enable megawatt charging (MCS). From the start of sales, customers can order a pre-installation of this feature.
“As soon as MCS technology becomes available and is standardized across manufacturers, it is planned to be retrofittable for these models of the eActros 600. The batteries can be charged from 20 to 80 percent in about 30 minutes at a suitable charging station with an output of around one megawatt,” promises the manufacturer.
The vehicle is technically designed for a gross combination weight of up to 44 tons. With a standard semitrailer, the eActros 600 has a payload of around 22 tons in the EU. In some cases, national law may permit a higher payload.
Photo: Mercedes-Benz Trucks press materials
Sales of the electric truck start this year. The start of series production is planned for the end of 2024.
In addition to the tractor unit, Mercedes-Benz Trucks says it will also produce rigid variants of the eActros 600 right from market launch. A fleet of around fifty prototype vehicles is currently being built, some of which are also to be put into practical testing with first customers in a next step.
Commenting on the launch, Karin Rådström, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Trucks, said:
“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 characterized 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 Mercedes Benz Trucks, the eActros 600 can be more profitable than a diesel long-haul truck within the average vehicle holding period of around five years or after around 600,000 kilometers (and notes the purchase price of the truck is around two to two and a half times higher than the diesel equivalent).
Other key features highlighted by Mercedes Benz Trucks are as follows:
- Three battery packs, each with 207 kWh. These offer an installed total capacity of 621 kWh.
- A new 800-volt electric axle with two electric motors and a four-speed transmission. The electric motors generate a continuous output of 400 kW as well as a peak output of 600 kW.
- An energy recovery system with 5 different modes
- One-pedal driving can also be optionally enabled on the touchscreen in the digital cockpit (i.e. deceleration by means of recuperation with reduced actuation of the mechanical brake)
- Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC) cruise and transmission control specially tuned to the electric drive system
- The cab is equipped with aluminum step plates, a new headlamp concept with matrix LED headlamps and an LED light strip
- Reduced air resistance courtesy of aerodynamic design
- Two power take-offs; an electric-mechanical power take-off and an electric DC or AC power take-off
- an external Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS)
- an electronic safety platform that utilises sensor fusion to merge radar and camera data for an even larger view to the front and side
- safety assistance systems such as Active Brake Assist 6 (ABA 6), Frontguard Assist, Active Sideguard Assist 2 (ASGA 2) and Active Drive Assist 3 (ADA 3)