Mercedes-Benz eActros LongHaul Electric Truck Is A ‘Holistic Transport Solution’
Mercedes-Benz has a new electric truck in the concept prototype phase, but all signs point to this becoming a reality. The Mercedes-Benz eActros LongHaul appeared at IAA Transportation 2022 this week with its impressive range and battery size. What else did Mercedes and Daimler Truck say about this long-haul battery electric truck?
You might see the Mercedes-Benz eActros LongHaul on the road by 2024
Mercedes-Benz’s parent company, Daimler Truck AG, released more information about its eActros LongHaul long-distance electric truck. One battery charge gives the truck a 310-mile (500 km) range. Using megawatt charging, Daimler says charging from 20% State of Charge (SoC) to 80% SoC in less than 30 minutes.
“Our electric trucks are specifically designed for e-mobility, giving them better drivability, energy efficiency and durability.”
Karin Rådström | CEO Mercedes-Benz Trucks
Mercedes-Benz says that due to payload, distance, and routes, heavy-duty long-haul transportation is the most demanding in its segment. However, the automaker thinks there is plenty of room for improvement. The Mercedes-Benz eActros debuted in 2021 as an answer for heavy-duty transportation needs. Now, the eActros LongHaul is ready to take on “battery-powered heavy-duty long-haul transport.”
The Mercedes-Benz eActros LongHaul is made to drive more than 750,000 miles in 10 years
The Mercedes-Benz eActros LongHaul has already completed testing and will hit public roads in the next few months. Plans for prototypes to hit customer drivers will be after that.
Mercedes-Benz Trucks gave more information about the electric truck’s batteries. Three battery packs provide a total capacity of over 600 kWh. Two electric motors (which Mercedes calls e-axles) “generate a continuous output of 400 kW and a peak output of over 600 kW.”
There are big plans in place for the Mercedes-Benz eActros LongHaul at launch. Development engineers are building the LongHaul so it can withstand life on the road as well as a conventional truck, which means more than 750,000 miles on the road over 10 years.
Daimler Truck plans to test the electric truck with Amazon
Mercedes-Benz Trucks has entered an agreement with Amazon and Rhenus to do real-world testing of the eActros LongHaul. Amazon Transportation Services plans to be a net-zero business by 2040, and this truck could be a solution to its transportation needs.
The eActros LongHaul will use lithium-iron phosphate cell technology (LFP), characterized by a longer service life and more usable energy. With a 30-minute charging time, Mercedes-Benz calls this concept a “holistic solution consisting of vehicle technology, consulting, charging infrastructure and services.”
The company also plans to use eTrailers, or electrified trailers, to further increase the range of its trucks. Trailer Dynamics and Krone used an e-axle built into the trailer, which uses batteries to support the towing vehicle with additional power. Mercedes-Benz Trucks says that depending on the capacity of the eTrailer, 500-mile ranges are possible when using the eActros LongHaul.
