Daimler teases eActros LongHaul

Mercedes-Benz Trucks has revealed sketches and initial details of its eActros LongHaul – a ‘concept prototype’ of the manufacturer’s first linehaul electric truck – ahead of its official unveiling at the IAA commercial vehicle expo in Hanover, Germany, in September.

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Billed as the brand’s first series-production battery-electric long-distance truck, Mercedes-Benz says the eAtros LongHaul features LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery technology that with high-performance ‘megawatt charging’ can be charged from a capacity of 20 per cent to 80 per cent in “well under 30 minutes”, with the possibility of a range “on par with conventional trucks”.

Mercedes-Benz has released a series of design sketches and mock-ups of the looming reveal, showing a sleek aerodynamic profile and futuristic LED lighting, but little else.

Initially announced in 2020, the concept prototype eActros LongHaul will give an insight into the design of the volume-production prime mover. On-road trials of the prototype will commence this year, with the first customer trials of near-production versions slated to commence from 2023, ahead of “series readiness” in 2024.

Mercedes-Benz says the 40-tonne GCM truck will have an effective range of approximately 500 kilometres on a single charge.

The eActros LongHaul will headline the Mercedes-Benz Trucks stand at the IAA, where the brand will also show other new electric truck models as it ramps up towards meeting its electrification and sustainability goals.

The eActros for heavy-duty distribution work has been in production in Germany since October 2021, while the eEconic vocational truck will follow next month.

Mercedes-Benz says LFP battery technology employed in the eActros LongHaul provides a long service life and more usable energy, while the 500km range, when combined with fast charging at stations with an output above one megawatt, effectively delivers a range comparable to a conventional truck while enabling two-shift operation.

The manufacturer says the truck will feature “a particularly balanced driveline for a very pleasant driving experience”, along with numerous safety innovations, and will be introduced as a core component of what Mercedes-Benz describes as a “holistic solution consisting of vehicle technology, consulting, charging infrastructure and services”.

In Europe, Daimler is working with Volvo Group and TRATON to establish a joint venture to roll out public charging infrastructure, while it’s working with Siemens Smart Infrastructure and ENGIE for depot charging and is also looking at megawatt charging solutions.

“The electrification of heavy long-distance transport is the next milestone on our road to CO2-neutrality,” said Karin Rådström, CEO Mercedes-Benz Trucks.

“The eActros LongHaul is a battery-electric vehicle which is planned to be economically feasible for our customers. My team and I look forward to presenting this innovative truck to our customers and the public in September.”

Daimler Trucks aims to offer only new trucks that are CO2-neutral when driving (‘tank to wheel’) in Europe, Japan and North America by 2039, as it progresses towards its ultimate goal of putting fully CO2-neutral transport on the road by 2050. Hydrogen fuel cell (FCEV) trucks will enter series production in the second half of this decade, the manufacturer says.