Mercedes-Benz eActros 600: An E-Truck for Long-Haul Drivers

As a world premiere, Mercedes-Benz Trucks presented the eActros 600 to an international audience at an event south of Hamburg. With the heavy electric truck, the manufacturer aims to define the new standard in road freight transport – in terms of technology, sustainability, design, and profitability for e-fleet operators.

A 600 kWh Battery Lays the Foundation

The high battery capacity of over 600 kilowatt-hours – hence the type designation 600 – as well as a new, particularly efficient electric drive axle developed in-house, would enable a range of the electric truck of 500 kilometers without intermediate charging, the manufacturer stated. The eActros 600 will thus be able to cover significantly more than 1,000 kilometers per day. It is factored in that the truck will recharge during the legally mandated driver breaks.

For the approximately 60 percent of long-distance trips of Mercedes-Benz Trucks customers in Europe, which are in any case shorter than 500 kilometers, a charging infrastructure at the depot as well as at loading and unloading sites is sufficient. For all other operations, the continuous development of a public charging infrastructure is an essential prerequisite to make the electric truck fully operational for pan-European long-distance transport.

On the Way to Megawatt Charging: Starting with 400 kW

In the future, the eActros 600 will feature megawatt charging (MCS) in addition to CCS charging with up to 400 kW. From the sales start, customers can order a pre-installation for this. Once the MCS technology is available and standardized across manufacturers, it will be retrofittable for these models of the eActros 600. The batteries can be charged at a suitable charging station with about one megawatt of power in around 30 minutes from 20 to 80 percent. The vehicle is technically designed for a combined gross weight of up to 44 tons. With a standard trailer, the eActros 600 has a payload of around 22 tons in the EU.

The electric truck is expected to set new standards in profitability for fleet operators, enabling it to potentially replace the majority of diesel trucks in the important long-distance transport segment in the long term. The core of Mercedes-Benz Trucks' concept for battery-electric long-distance transport is to offer customers a comprehensive transport solution encompassing vehicle technology, consulting, charging infrastructure, and services.

Sales Start Later This Year

The sale of the E-truck will start later this year. Series production is expected to begin at the end of 2024. The eActros 600 will initially be produced both as a tractor unit and as a chassis variant, offering customers numerous additional applications in fully electric transport. Currently, a fleet of around fifty prototypes is being built, some of which will undergo practical testing with early customers in the next phase.

“The eActros 600 represents the transformation of road freight transport towards CO2 neutrality like no other star-branded truck before it. It features state-of-the-art drive technology that can offer very high energy efficiency and thus profitability for our customers. This makes the entry into e-mobility particularly attractive for fleet operators,” says Karin Rådström, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Trucks.