The eActros LongHaul battery-electric long-haul truck will be the highlight of Mercedes-Benz Trucks at this September’s IAA Transportation show in Hanover. The manufacturer announced the 40-ton truck in 2020 and is presenting the “concept prototype” for the first time exactly two years later. The eActros LongHaul, which will be shown at IAA, is a preview of the design theme for the production vehicle. The tractor is also part of the eActros LongHaul test fleet. The first prototypes are already undergoing intensive testing, and this year the eActros LongHaul will be tested on public roads. Next year, prototypes close to production will be handed over to customers for real-world testing. Series readiness is planned for 2024. On a single battery charge, the eActros LongHaul will have a range of about 500 kilometers.
In addition to the eActros LongHaul, Mercedes-Benz Trucks will present new battery electric trucks at the IAA. The eActros for heavy-duty distribution vehicles has been in series production at the Wörth plant since October 2021. The eEconic for municipal use will be available in July. Mercedes-Benz Trucks aims to increase the proportion of new CO2-neutral vehicles in Europe to more than 50 percent by 2030.
Karin Rodström, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Trucks: “The electrification of long-distance heavy-duty vehicles is the next milestone on our path to zero-carbon. The eActros LongHaul is a battery electric vehicle that should be cost-effective for our customers. My team and I look forward to introducing this innovative truck to our customers and the public in September.”
As part of the pre-launch communication for the IAA, Mercedes-Benz Trucks published the first teaser images of the eActros LongHaul concept prototype and announced further specifications planned for the production vehicle. The eActros LongHaul batteries use lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) cell technology. Above all, they are characterized by their long service life and greater useful energy. The batteries can be charged from 20 to 80 percent in less than 30 minutes at a charging station of about one megawatt. The large range on a single charge, combined with the megawatt charging station, results in an overall range on par with conventional trucks and thus allows two-shift operation. The vehicle also features a particularly well-balanced transmission that provides a very pleasant driving experience. In addition, the eActros LongHaul features numerous innovations by the manufacturer in the area of safety. The Mercedes-Benz Trucks concept for long-distance battery electric vehicles is based on offering customers a holistic solution consisting of vehicle technology, advice, charging infrastructure and services. The eActros LongHaul should be the right choice for customers in terms of cost-effectiveness, environmental friendliness and reliability.
Benefits of the Mercedes-Benz eActros LongHaul
Battery electric drives have the highest efficiency among alternative drives. The eActros LongHaul therefore offers a high level of energy efficiency thanks to its pure electric drive. This gives transportation companies a significant economic advantage in the scenarios in which the eActros LongHaul is expected to be used.
The lion’s share of long-distance vehicles in carriers’ operating practices do not require a range greater than approximately 500 km, which the eActros LongHaul makes possible without recharging. In addition, legal driving time limits for truck drivers limit the need for longer trips, as the case may be. For example, truck drivers in the EU must take at least a 45-minute break after a maximum of 4.5 hours of driving. During this time, energy for the remainder of the route can be recharged. Thus, the eActros LongHaul is the right choice for transport companies for regular use on routes that can be planned with appropriate distances and charging options in mind.
Advantages of the Mercedes-Benz eActros LongHaul
Battery electric drives have the highest efficiency among alternative drives. The eActros LongHaul therefore offers a high level of energy efficiency thanks to its purely electric drive. This gives transportation companies a significant economic advantage in the scenarios in which the eActros LongHaul is expected to be used.
The lion’s share of long-distance vehicles in carriers’ operating practices do not require a range greater than approximately 500 km, which the eActros LongHaul makes possible without recharging. In addition, legal driving time limits for truck drivers limit the need for longer trips, as the case may be. For example, truck drivers in the EU must take at least a 45-minute break after a maximum of 4.5 hours of driving. During this time, energy for the remainder of the route can be recharged. Thus, the eActros LongHaul is the right choice for transport companies for regular use on routes that can be planned with appropriate distances and charging options in mind.
Interaction with charging infrastructure partners
Daimler Truck, the TRATON GROUP and the Volvo Group have signed a binding agreement to form a joint venture for intercity charging. This involves the creation and operation of a publicly available, high-capacity charging network for battery electric heavy-duty trucks and long-distance buses in Europe. The charging network of these three parties must be available to fleet operators in Europe, regardless of brand. In terms of depot charging, Mercedes-Benz Trucks is working with Siemens Smart Infrastructure and ENGIE.
In addition, Daimler Truck is participating in the project “High-performance long-distance truck charging” (HoLa). The goal of the project under the patronage of the VDA is the planning, construction and operation of a selected high-performance charging infrastructure for battery electric vehicles for long-distance transportation. Two Megawatt Charging System (MCS) high-performance charging points will be installed at four locations in Germany and tested under real-world conditions. Various other consortium partners from industry and research are involved in the project.
The ultimate goal: zero CO2 road transport by 2050
Daimler Truck’s goal is to offer only new zero-carbon vehicles (“tank-to-wheel”) in Europe, Japan and North America by 2039. Two battery-electric models, the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro and Mercedes-Benz eActros, have been in production since 2018 and 2021, respectively. The Mercedes-Benz eEconic, FUSO eCanter, and Freightliner eCascadia will appear later this year, and other zero-carbon vehicles are already planned. In the second half of this decade, the company intends to add production trucks with hydrogen fuel cell drives to its lineup. The ultimate goal is to have a zero-carbon vehicle by 2050.