Mercedes-Benz Trucks plans extensive road tests for the new eActros 600 in the summer
The German manufacturer aims to have two near-series prototypes of the battery-electric long-haul truck traveling across more than 20 European countries, each completing more than 13,000 kilometers with 40 tons total towing weight. The manufacturer wants to use the tour to prove that the eActros 600 makes purely battery-electric, transnational long-distance haulage possible in Europe.
Mercedes-Benz Trucks is planning for this summer the most extensive test run in the history of the company – with its new electric flagship eActros 600. The German manufacturer aims to have two near-series prototypes of the battery-electric long-haul truck traveling across more than 20 European countries, each completing more than 13,000 kilometers with 40 tons total towing weight. Mercedes-Benz Trucks is 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.
Above all, Mercedes-Benz Trucks wants to use the tour to prove that the eActros 600 makes purely battery-electric, transnational long-distance haulage possible in Europe. For instance, the intention is 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 dubbed “eActros 600 European Testing Tour 2024” is intended to send a positive signal to all parties involved.
Challenging road tests for the eActros 600: the tour
The eActros 600 European Testing Tour is scheduled to start in Frankfurt/Main on June 11 and is planned to be accompanied by communication activities. Unofficially, the tour will already begin the day before at Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ site in Wörth am Rhein and at Daimler Truck AG’s headquarters in Leinfelden-Echterdingen. Mercedes-Benz Trucks is planning to present further details such as the route in connection with the start of the tour. Last year already, Mercedes-Benz Trucks performed a sales tour across Europe in connection with the eActros 300/400 for heavy-duty distribution transport. Three e-trucks each traveled more than 5,000 kilometers across Germany, Austria, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium.
“We have put various prototypes of the eActros 600 through their paces over the last few years. Whether in the North of Finland or the South of Spain, the vehicle has long proven what it can do. With series development, we are now on the finishing straight. The ‘eActros 600 European Testing Tour 2024’ 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”, stated Christof Weber, Head of Global Testing Mercedes-Benz Trucks.
