Mercedes-Benz Trucks to showcase long-haul eActros

Mercedes-Benz Trucks is set to unveil its long-distance battery electric eActros model. 

The German manufacturer will display a prototype version at commercial vehicle exhibition IAA Transportation 2022 in Hanover this September. 

Mercedes-Benz Trucks will begin testing the eActros LongHaul on public roads this year, followed by customer testing next year and series production set to begin in 2024.

The 40-tonne model will have a range of around 500km on one battery charge and will also enable high-performance ‘megawatt’ charging.  

It follows the market launch of the first eActros for heavy-duty distribution transport in 2021 with production taking place at the company’s Wörth plant. 

In addition to the eActros LongHaul, Mercedes-Benz Trucks will also present further new battery-electric trucks at IAA. Series production of the eEconic for municipal use is also set to begin this year. 

Mercedes-Benz Trucks is pursuing the goal of increasing the proportion of locally CO2-neutral new vehicles in Europe to more than 50% by 2030. 

Mercedes-Benz Trucks chief executive Karin Rådström says the electrification of heavy long-distance transport is “the next milestone” on the company’s road to CO2-neutrality. 

“The eActros LongHaul is a battery-electric vehicle which is planned to be economically feasible for our customers. 

“My team and I look forward to presenting this innovative truck to our customers and the public in September,” she says. 

The batteries used in the eActros LongHaul employ lithium-iron phosphate cell technology (LFP). 

The batteries can be charged from 20% to 80% in under 30 minutes at a charging station with an output of about one megawatt, the company says. 

The long range on a single charge in combination with megawatt charging results in overall ranges on a par with conventional trucks and enables two-shift operations, the company adds. 

Charging infrastructure

Daimler Truck, Traton Group and Volvo Group have signed a binding agreement to establish a joint venture for public charging for long-distance transport.

The partnership will help establish and operate a public high-performance charging network for heavy duty battery-electric trucks and coaches in Europe. 

The charging network should be available to fleet operators in Europe, regardless of brand. When it comes to depot charging, Mercedes-Benz Trucks works with Siemens Smart Infrastructure and ENGIE.

CharIN had a global premiere of its Megawatt Charging System for heavy-duty electric vehicles at the International Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exhibition EVS35 in Oslo, Norway, June 11-15. The MCS is set to make a global standard for e-trucks, buses, ships and aircraft.

It’s reported to have about 3.75MW charging power, serving trucks and buses with more than 1MW charging rates. Charging ports will be on a vehicle’s left side to ensure cables can reach the port. It’s said to have bi-directional charging with V2X capability and comes with a CCS adaptor.