Daimler Truck: Start of practical tests with eActros 600 at Contargo and Remondis

The battery-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 is starting customer tests. The first two test vehicles of the long-haul electric truck, introduced last year, will be gradually deployed in the coming weeks by container logistics company Contargo and recycling specialist Remondis in practical operation. Both companies are part of the Rethmann Group. Contargo will use its e-truck over several months for transporting containers between the port in Wörth am Rhein and various loading and unloading points. The vehicle is expected to cover over 800 kilometers daily.

In the initial phase, the vehicle will be charged at a fast charging station at the Contargo terminal in Karlsruhe. Contargo is planning to establish its own charging infrastructure at its operating site soon. According to its statements, Contargo is currently building the largest private charging network for heavy e-trucks in Germany, with 90 charging points at 18 locations. Remondis will use the test vehicle near Cologne as part of the "High-Performance Charging in Long-Haul Truck Transport" (HoLa) project. The aim of HoLa is to set up, operate, and scientifically support high-performance charging infrastructure for battery-electric long-haul transport. In addition to Daimler Truck, other consortium partners from industry and research are involved in the project.

The test vehicle for Remondis will mainly be used for transporting recycled raw materials and is equipped with a trailer specifically produced for testing by the company Kögel. Mercedes-Benz Trucks plans to successively hand over additional customer test vehicles to clients with different applications.

“The testing of e-trucks with customers before the production start has proven very effective. Therefore, we are also relying on practical tests for the eActros 600. We are very pleased that Contargo and Remondis will be the first customers to test the eActros 600 in real operation," explains Stina Fagerman, Head of Marketing, Sales, and Services at Mercedes-Benz Trucks.

Michael Starke, Managing Director of Rhenus Trucking GmbH & Co. KG, asserts that they genuinely want to implement decarbonization consistently and have always tested different innovations with Mercedes-Benz Trucks. It is logical to be involved with this vehicle as well. Additionally, they have firmly ordered 20 of these vehicles last year, which is expected to facilitate e-tours in container hinterland logistics as well as in national long-haul transport.

"820 kilometers a day – for that we are now using the eActros 600 in a shuttle service in two-shift operation. Thanks to our powerful charging infrastructure, this is an ideal application for the use of this vehicle," says Andreas Roer, Managing Director of Contargo Wörth-Karlsruhe GmbH.

For Sascha Hähnke, Managing Director of Remondis Sustainable Services GmbH, sustainability is everyday practice. They have already been able to gather many valuable experiences with electric trucks over the past few years, and there was no question that they would be the first company to participate in the customer testing of the eActros 600.

"Especially in the circular economy, where Remondis operates globally, everything begins with logistics. We are pleased to be able to take another step towards climate neutrality with the electric truck," said Hähnke.

Remondis relies on trailers from Kögel

The combined Kögel Cargo is the flagship of Kögel's trailer series and at the same time the best-selling trailer from the manufacturer based in Burtenbach. It is intended to contribute to the overall sustainability of the project with a high degree of customization, reliability, and high payload.

“The consistent sustainability strategy at Remondis impressed us,” says Christian Renners, Managing Director of Kögel Trailer GmbH. “As a leading trailer manufacturer, we also see ourselves as committed to acting sustainably. However, Kögel's concept of sustainability includes not only the environment but also customers, employees, and partnerships.”