Mercedes-Benz eActros signs on for Centurion

National logistics solution provider Centurion intends to operate 30 Mercedes-Benz eActros trucks as part of an Australian-first off-grid fleet powered by 100 per cent renewable energy.

The Government’s Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) Future Fuels Program will contribute $15.8 million to the $29 million program, enabling the trucks to join Centurion’s Perth metro fleet.

The plan is for the eActros trucks to be fully powered by four megawatts of rooftop solar generation and off-grid battery energy storage by the end of 2024. Charging will be carried out by 15 dual-port chargers at Centurion’s Hazelmere depot, in Perth's northeastern suburbs.

Daimler Truck Australia Pacific President and CEO, Daniel Whitehead, said the Centurion project followed a pattern of innovation at the company and applauded Centurion’s CEO, Justin Cardaci, for his leadership. 

“Sustainability leadership is often talked about but rarely proven in this industry,” said Mr Whitehead.

“Justin and the team at Centurion are true believers in making our world more sustainable – they are not just in it for a ‘green headline’.

“This remarkable off-grid eActros project is truly inspiring, but Centurion has long been focused on reducing emissions.

“Centurion has been running the most fuel-efficient trucks that meet or exceed Euro 6 emission standards from Freightliner and Mercedes-Benz for many years – well before that regulated standard.

“I applaud Centurion’s determination to make a difference and its commitment to lead the Australian transport industry on a path to a more sustainable future.

“I’d also like to thank the Government’s Australian Renewable Energy Agency and its Future Fuels Program for helping to make this project a reality,” Mr Whitehead concluded.

Mr Cardaci said the project represented a significant step in Centurion’s decarbonisation journey, as it continues its work towards an operational future with net zero emissions.

“Centurion actively seeks to deploy technology where it’s ready to displace the diesel transport equivalent and the ARENA funding certainly helps support the project’s economics,” he said.

“For most of our operations, zero-emissions heavy transport technology won’t be ready for several years, but battery electric trucks are now ready for operations across the wider metropolitan area.

“Operating a real zero-emissions Mercedes-Benz eActros truck fleet from off-grid solar and battery is a significant step in supporting the energy transition,” Mr Cardaci concluded.

Daimler Truck Australia Pacific Sales, Marketing and Operations Vice President, Andrew Assimo, said the eActros, which can carry heavy loads and has a range of more than 300km, is the perfect choice for Centurion.

“Thanks to a massive investment in engineering by Daimler Truck, the eActros brings the most advanced technology to the class, with innovative features such as the efficient eAxle,” Mr Assimo said.

“We can’t wait to see the eActros hit the road in Centurion colours as part of this fantastic initiative and look forward to helping Justin and his team continue their sustainability leadership,” Mr Assimo added.

The Mercedes-Benz eActros will be officially launched in Australia in May, along with the next-generation fully electric Fuso eCanter, which further extends Daimler Truck’s sustainability leadership.

Fuso was the first manufacturer to introduce an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) electric truck in Australia, with the local launch of original eCanter in 2021.

Range: 300km. In local testing, a fully loaded eActros achieved 300km with 20 per cent remaining battery life.
GVM: 16 tonnes
Permits required: None. Truck meets all Australian regulations.
Drive system: eAxle with two integrated liquid-cooled motors and a two-speed transmission.
Output: 536hp (400kW) peak performance and 443hp (330kW) continuous output.
Batteries: Three lithium-ion battery packs with 336kWh capacity.
Cabin noise: 10dB noise reduction, which is an approximate halving of the perceptible in-cabin volume.
Active safety: If the driver is distracted the eActros can automatically brake for pedestrians and vehicles, using front and left-side radars and a front camera.
In addition to this Standard Active Brake Assist 5 feature, it also comes with Stability Control Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Attention Assist, Stability Control Assist, Roll Control Assist and tyre pressure monitoring.
Pedestrian alert feature: An acoustic Vehicle Alert System fitted as standard. An acoustic warning system sounds when the vehicle travels at speeds of up to 60 km/h, to make pedestrians aware of the vehicle.
Charging time: Charging from 20 per cent to 80 per cent capacity takes 1hr 15min (using 150kW charger).
Mirrors: Traditional wing mirrors have been replaced by cameras that improve vision and remove the blind spot created by traditional mirrors. The second-generation MirrorCam system is standard, featuring two in-cab, A-pillar mounted, 15-inch monitors.
Recuperation braking: A five-stage recuperation braking system works like an engine brake to spare the service brakes and recoup significant amounts of electricity, which is fed into the batteries.
First introduced: The innovation fleet eActros was operational in 2018 and the production version was introduced in Europe, in 2022.