Mercedes-Benz Trucks is celebrating the world première of its battery-electric eActros for heavy-duty short-radius distribution.
With the first series-produced electric truck to bear a three-pointed star, Mercedes-Benz Trucks is ringing in a new era and simultaneously highlighting its clear desire to achieve CO2-neutral road-based goods transport.
The standard model of the eActros is planned to roll off the production line in Wörth am Rhein (Germany) from autumn 2021. The findings from the “eActros innovation fleet” which started in 2018 and the close exchanges with customers have been incorporated into the development of the series-production model.
Alongside this, proven features such as MirrorCam and the Multimedia Cockpit Interactive have been adopted in the standard specification. The eActros is now ready to assist customers of Mercedes-Benz Trucks on the road to CO2-neutral transport services.
Practical range
The battery of the eActros series-production model is equipped with either three or four battery packs, each with an energy capacity of around 105 kWh3. The maximum battery capacity of 420 kWh2 enables ranges of up to 400 kilometres to be achieved. The technological centrepiece of the electric truck is the drive unit – a rigid electric axle with two integrated electric motors and a two-speed transmission. Both liquid-cooled motors generate a continuous output of 330 kW as well as a top performance of 400 kW. Plus, if the vehicle is driven particularly foresightedly, recuperation enables the vehicle to recover electrical energy. The energy obtained in this way during braking is fed back into the batteries of the eActros and is again made available for use by the drive system.
Impressive performance
The two integrated electric motors offer great efficiency and a constant delivery of power with high starting torque. The provision of immediate torque by the electric motors which are coupled with a two-speed transmission ensures powerful acceleration, impressive driving comfort and driving dynamics which enable more relaxed, low-stress driving than a conventional diesel-powered truck. Plus, the low centre of gravity is also favourable when it comes to cornering. In full-load operations, drivers enjoy a pleasant noise reduction of 10 dB inside the cab, which roughly corresponds to a halving of perceptible noise volume. Thanks to the low noise level, night-time deliveries are also possible. Contrary to a diesel truck, there are also noticeably fewer vibrations. The eActros can be charged with up to 160 kW: When connected to a regular 400A DC charging station, the battery packs need little more than one hour to charge from 20 to 80%4.
Integral component of a business eco-system
In order to assist transport companies along every step of their way into eMobility, Mercedes-Benz Trucks has embedded the eActros in an eco-system which also provides advice and services, as well as a range of digital solutions to increase capacity utilisation of the vehicle and to optimise the total cost of ownership. For example, using a customer’s existing route plans, it is possible to establish a highly realistic and meaningful usage profile for electric trucks. This so-called eConsulting doesn’t just include electrification of the depot, but – if the customer desires – also covers questions concerning planning, applying for and implementing everything to do with the charging infrastructure and connection to the electricity network. To this end, Mercedes-Benz Trucks has also established a strategic partnership with ENGIE and EVBox Group. Plus, if required, Mercedes-Benz Trucks can additionally provide help with identifying any available public grants for infrastructure and vehicles.
Intelligent digital solutions
Using the Multimedia Cockpit Interactive which comes as standard in the eActros, the driver remains constantly up-to-date with the charge level of the batteries and the remaining range, as well as the current and average energy consumption. What’s more, fleet managers can use the Fleetboard portal’s digital solutions to efficiently control their fleet. This includes such things as an individually developed Charge Management System for creating charging profiles, and a logbook containing detailed information on driving times, downtimes and charging breaks. There is also a mapping tool which shows the vehicle’s current location in real-time, as well as whether it is in motion, parked or being charged, not to mention how high the battery charge is. Furthermore, the eActros is also available with Mercedes-Benz Complete – a service contract including the All-round Carefree Package. Equally always included with this is intensive customer support through Mercedes-Benz Uptime. As part of this, fully automatic telediagnosis continuously monitors the status of several vehicle systems in the truck in real time. By bundling repair and maintenance requirements, the number of unplanned workshop visits can thus also be reduced.
High level of safety for the driver and other road users
Numerous features and systems in the eActros ensure a high level of road safety for all concerned. For example, special crash elements with an aluminium profile protect the batteries in the event of a side-on crash, while sensors integrated in these can detect a crash scenario. In such a case, the HV battery would be automatically isolated from the rest of the vehicle. What’s more, the driver always has the option of actuating the HV shutoff at any time in the cab. Meanwhile, to ensure the vehicle is easier for road users like pedestrians and cyclists to hear, the eActros comes as standard with an external Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS). Also assuring additional safety when turning off to the nearside is the Sideguard Assist which comes as standard on the eActros. Another system which is part of the standard scope of equipment is the fifth-generation Active Brake Assist emergency braking system with pedestrian recognition. This can help to reduce the risk of a collision in the longitudinal direction on urban streets, out-of-town roads or motorways.
With all assistance systems, Mercedes-Benz Trucks aims to support the driver as much as possible within the respective limits of each system. However, as the law prescribes, the driver remains fully responsible for driving the vehicle safely at all times.
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