IFAT 2024, Mercedes-Benz Trucks exhibits the eActros and eEconic for municipal applications. Our report from Munich
We had the opportunity to visit the exhibition on the very first day and had an interesting walkaround at the Mercedes-Benz Trucks' booth. There, two electric vehicles are on display: eActros 400 for use as a winter service vehicle, and a Mercedes-Benz eEconic 300 with a 6x2 axle configuration as a chassis.
Mercedes-Benz Trucks participates in IFAT 2024, the leading European fair on green and water treatment technologies that opened on May 13 and will close on May 17. We had the opportunity to visit the exhibition on the very first day and had an interesting walkaround at the Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ booth. There, two electric vehicles are on display.
Mercedes-Benz Trucks at IFAT: the eActros 400 as a winter service vehicle
Namely, the eActros 400 for use as a winter service vehicle with Meiller hooklifts and Bucher Municipal winter equipment. The Polyx L series snowplow comes with the patented neoprene blade as standard, which clears roads gently and with little noise, and provides improved snow ejection. The snowplow is connected to the vehicle by a novel front mounting plate. The front mounting plate, which was previously firmly connected to the chassis, now remains on the snow plow, thereby allowing unrestricted use of the sensors for the GSR requirements. In addition, there is a significant weight saving when used outside of winter service.
The batteries on the eActros 400 comprise four battery packs, each with an installed capacity of 112 kWh and a usable capacity of around 97 kWh. With four battery packs, the eActros 400 boasts a range of up to 400 kilometers depending on the application.
Mercedes-Benz eEconic 300
In addition, a Mercedes-Benz eEconic 300 on display with a 6×2 axle configuration as a chassis. Nothing particularly new compared to the eEconic officially launched a couple of year ago at IFAT, sharing the very same powertrain structure and truck conception with the eActros. The basic vehicle is characterized by a particularly low curb weight in comparison to other companies. The eEconic is predominantly used as a waste collection vehicle in inner-city and municipal work, where it can put its improved payload to good use. Several examples of the eEconic are available in the open-air area of the exhibition.
Franziska Cusumano: “Bringing the ecology and economics together”
“Availability of products, infrastructure, total cost of ownership: these are the main challenges when it comes to e-mobility”, told us Franziska Cusumano, Head of Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks. “We’re trying to bring the ecology and economics together. Municipal use cases are very suitable to be electrified, as there are very much plannable routes, with no longer highways, charging overnight. Electric vehicles allow for significantly better solutions on a noise perspective”.
“At this year’s IFAT, we are focused on integrating battery-electric vehicles into municipal applications. We have two vehicles at our stand, the eActros 400 and the eEconic, which offer a number of versatile options, with suitable attachments and bodies. From waste disposal to snow removal and grit spreading, in dense inner-city traffic, in cold and slippery conditions – our electric trucks are ready to go”, added Christian Wilz, Head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks Sales and Services Germany.
Looking at the future, Franziska Cusumano does not see the possibility to electrify the Unimog special vehicles (one of them is standing at IFAT 2024). Nevertheless, Mercedes-Benz Trucks is working on the development of hydrogen-powered ICE vehicles in the special truck segment. Cusumano also confirmed that the manufacturer is considering to shift to NMC battery cell chemistry for the entire e-truck range, searching for higher safety and durability.
