Electric drive: Heavy-duty distribution traffic with the eActros

Vehicle & Technology

The eActros is coming!

In 2016 Mercedes-Benz Trucks was the first manufacturer worldwide to introduce a heavy-duty electric truck. RoadStars presents the innovations that will allow the new eActros to make zero-emissions delivery traffic in inner-city areas a reality.


At the IAA 2016, Mercedes-Benz Trucks became the first manufacturer in the world to present a heavy-duty electric truck – the Urban eTruck. Now the technology pioneer is taking the logical next step: Mercedes-Benz is putting its electric truck, the eActros, out on the road to do some real work. Over the next few months, customers from various industries will have the opportunity to test 10 vehicles with a maximum gross weight of either 18 tons or 25 tons for their suitability in everyday use to evaluate their cost-effectiveness. The long-term goal: a series production truck for local emission-free driving in cities.

For the two- and three-axle vehicles, the focus will initially be on inner-city goods and delivery traffic – the eActros is ideal for the distances to be covered in this segment. A lot has happened on the technology front since the time when the prototype was first introduced: for example, there are now eleven battery packs to take care of the power supply. Additional components sourced from within the Daimler Group further boost reliability.


Sustainable, fully electric, quiet. The maximum gross weight of the eActros is 18 or 25 tonnes, depending on the version.
Sustainable, fully electric, quiet. The maximum gross weight of the eActros is 18 or 25 tonnes, depending on the version.
Tried-and-tested energy storage units. The 240 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion batteries already tested at EvoBus give a range of around 200 kilometres.
Tried-and-tested energy storage units. The 240 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion batteries already tested at EvoBus give a range of around 200 kilometres.
Making full use of synergies. The chassis and many of the other components in the eActros are sourced from proven series-production models.
Making full use of synergies. The chassis and many of the other components in the eActros are sourced from proven series-production models.

Drives just like a diesel truck.

The drive axle, for example, is based on a model that is already in use as a low-floor portal axle in Mercedes-Benz buses with hybrid and fuel cells. It underwent a significant redesign to adapt it for use in the eActros.

The axle is driven by two electric motors mounted near the rear-axle wheel hubs. The liquid-cooled three-phase asynchronous motors operate at a nominal voltage of 400 volts. With a rated output power of 125 kW, they each deliver a maximum torque of 485 Nm. After transmission, this translates into 11 000 Nm. This gives the eActros a driving performance that is absolutely on a par with that of a diesel truck. Lithium-ion batteries with a capacity of 240 kWh store enough energy to give the truck a range of up to 200 kilometres. These batteries have already proved their worth many times at the Daimler company EvoBus GmbH and are already well past the prototype stage. Synergies of this type, generated within the Daimler Group itself, can cut both development times and costs without compromising reliability.

For safety’s sake, the batteries of the eActros are enclosed in steel casings. In the event of a collision, the brackets give way and divert the energy from the impact away from the batteries to ensure they will not sustain any damage. The energy storage units can be fully recharged within three to 11 hours using mobile chargers. The customer innovation fleet will be operating for a period lasting until the middle of 2020 at least.


Photos: Daimler

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