Mercedes-Benz Trucks has putting two prototypes of its eActros 600 through extensive testing
The purpose of the testing was for them to travel across more than 20 European countries, each completing more than 13,000 kilometres with 40 tons total towing weight.
With this venture, the company was pursuing the objective of gaining extensive experience on a wide range of routes in different topographies and climate zones with an eye on energy consumption. It also wanted to use the tour to prove that the eActros 600 makes purely battery-electric, transnational long-distance haulage possible within Europe.
For instance, the intention was to charge the batteries exclusively at public charging stations. Even if the building up of a seamless public truck charging infrastructure is still imperative for the further market ramp-up for e-trucks, the trip was intended to send a positive signal to all parties involved.
This isn’t the first outing for the model with various iterations having already been subjected to environmental testing and road testing during the development phase in the last few years.
According to the head of global testing at the company, Dr Christof Weber, the vehicle had already proven what it can do all across the continent from the north of Finland to the south of Spain.
“With series development, we are now on the finishing straight. This road test enables us to send out a clear message a few months prior to the launch of series production. We are firmly convinced that the two eActros 600 prototypes will master extremely well this enormous feat of strength involving the most extensive test run by Mercedes-Benz Trucks to date,” he said.
Stina Fagerman, Head of Marketing, Sales and Services at Mercedes-Benz Trucks says that the company is now placing its focus on expanding its expertise in the areas of consumption and deployment options of the e-truck under a wide range of conditions.
“In addition, we intend to inform decision-makers in politics and the energy sector about the possibilities provided by battery-electric drives in the long-haul segment, and in this way further boost the momentum in building up the necessary infrastructure,” says Fagerman.
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