Mercedes lifts the veil on its eActros 600, its first electric truck designed for long-distance transport. With a range of 500 kilometers on a single charge, it should compete with the Tesla Semi and will arrive on the roads in 2024.
If the electric car market is today more and more developed, another is also emerging. This is that of electric trucks. Indeed, more and more manufacturers are interested in it, even though road transport is very polluting, as confirmed by a study by the NGO Transport & Environment.
A new heavyweight
This is why more and more brands are entering this market, starting of course with Tesla with its Semi, the first deliveries of which began at the end of last year. Obviously, the American firm is obviously not the only one trying to find a place in this segment. This is also the case for Volvo and Renault Trucks, as well as Mercedes. The German company also unveiled a hydrogen truck a few days ago.
If the latter, which has a range of 1,000 kilometers, is still at the concept stage, the German manufacturer lifts the veil on a vehicle which will indeed see the light of day. This is the eActros 600, a brand new 100% electric truck intended for transporting goods over long distances. The latter should directly compete with the Tesla Semi and its 800 kilometers of autonomy when loaded with 37 tonnes.
In its press release, Mercedes indicates that its heavyweight can for its part travel up to 500 kilometers on a single charge, probably according to the WLTP approval cycle. A figure which can reach 1,000 kilometers per day with intermediate loads carried out during breaks made compulsory by European law. And for good reason, the 621 kW batterydivided into three LFP (lithium — iron — phosphate) packs of 207 kW, it can be charged from 20 to 80% in just 30 minutes.
And this to a power of 400 kW thanks to a CSS socket and on a fast direct current terminal. Later, the manufacturer specifies that its truck will be compatible with megawatt charging via MCS technology which will be offered a little later. For memory, the Tesla Semi can handle up to 1,000 kWor 1 MwH thanks to Megachargers.
Launch next year
The new Mercedes eActros 600 can carry up to 22 tonnes of payload in a standard trailer, with a gross vehicle weight of 44 tonnes. A value which may however be a little greater in certain countries depending on the legislation. According to the brand’s press release, this vehicle would be more profitable than a standard diesel truck over the same holding period.
And this despite a purchase price approximately two to two and a half times higher. That of the eActros 600 has not yet been revealed but we should soon know a little more about it. Orders will open by the end of the year, while production and first deliveries will begin next year. “Carrier” versions will also be available from launch.
The electric truck displays a power of up to 600 kW, or 815 horsepower at the peak and is equipped with energy recovery when braking. It is also equipped with adaptive cruise control as well as level 2 autonomous driving. On board, the driver can benefit from a large touch screen and a digital instrument panel indicating all the important information for driving, such as the remaining charge level.
This new arrival should allow the electric heavy goods vehicle market to accelerate, while the European Union is also working on it. It requires, in fact, that at least one charging station be available every 60 kilometers on major roads and every 100 kilometers on less important motorways. These must display a power of at least 350 kW from 2025.
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