At the IAA Transportation Daimler Truck finally unveils the new heavy battery-electric truck for long distance transport, a new eActros tractor and announces the eAtego.
Daimler Truck is pursuing the goal of complete locally CO2-neutral transport. The manufacturer demonstrates this with a broad portfolio of fully electric vehicles at IAA Transportation 2022 in Hanover. The Daimler Truck trade show highlight is the heavy-duty, battery-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros LongHaul long-distance truck, which the manufacturer presents to the public for the first time. Daimler Truck unveiled a concept prototype of the electric truck at a press conference ahead of the IAA on Sunday evening. The series-production eActros LongHaul has a range of around 500 kilometers on a single battery charge and is capable of megawatt charging. Readiness for series production is planned for 2024. Another innovation at the trade show is the battery-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros 300 in a tractor version for flexible heavy-duty distribution transport. In addition, Daimler Truck has announced the battery-electric Mercedes-Benz eAtego for the medium-duty segment. As another highlight, the manufacturer is presenting the light-duty, battery-electric FUSO Next Generation eCanter at the IAA -- celebrating its European premiere at IAA Transportation just two weeks after its world premiere.
As a business unit of Daimler Truck, the world's leading bus manufacturer Daimler Buses has also set the goal of a completely CO2-neutral vehicle portfolio. Daimler Buses aims to offer CO2-neutral models in every segment by 2030. In addition to the battery-electric Mercedes-Benz eCitaro, which has been in series production since 2018, Daimler Buses plans to launch the first all-electric inter-city bus from 2025. The first purely electric coach will follow from the end of this decade. At the press conference on Sunday evening, Daimler Buses presented the next generation of the Setra TopClass and ComfortClass coaches with an efficient conventional drivetrain as a world premiere. In terms of design, these models show the new “family face” and set standards for safety and assistance systems with Active Brake Assist 5 as standard and optional Active Drive Assist 2.
Martin Daum, CEO Daimler Truck: “Since the last IAA four years ago we have moved forward at full speed with the transition to CO2-neutral transport. This year we already have eight pure battery-electric series-production vehicles in our portfolio. However, it’s not enough just to offer the right vehicles. Our customers also need the suitable infrastructure. We are active here at a wide variety of levels. For a rapid build-up, it is essential that the entire industry and governments pull together.”
Karin Rådström, CEO Mercedes-Benz Trucks: “We are continuously expanding our portfolio of battery-electric trucks. Our focus is on offering clear advantages to our customers. Therefore, our electric trucks are specifically designed for e-mobility, giving them better drivability, energy efficiency and durability.”
eActros LongHaul shows massive capacity
The eActros LongHaul presented at IAA provides a preview of the design language of the production vehicle with its clear contours and an LED light strip in the front area. Mercedes-Benz Trucks has also announced additional information on the eActros LongHaul series. Three battery packs provide an installed total capacity of over 600 kWh and two electric motors, as part of a new e-axle, generate a continuous output of 400 kW and a peak output of over 600 kW. In addition to the tractor unit,
Mercedes-Benz Trucks will also produce rigid variants of the eActros LongHaul right at market launch. This will offer customers numerous other possible use cases in fully electric transport. Development engineers at Mercedes-Benz Trucks are designing the eActros LongHaul so that the vehicle and its components meet the same durability requirements as a comparable conventional heavy long-distance Actros. That means 1.2 million kilometers on the road over a period of ten years.
The eActros LongHaul will be the first all-electric series-production vehicle from Mercedes-Benz Trucks to be manufactured from start to finish on the existing assembly line at the Wörth truck plant. This also includes the installation of all electrical components and putting the vehicle into operation at the end of the line. It enables high-production capacities and a completely parallel production of both conventional and fully electric trucks on the same line. With the eActros 300/400 and the eEconic, on the other hand, electrification has so far taken place in a separate process at the Future Truck Center in Wörth.
The batteries used in the eActros LongHaul employ lithium-iron phosphate cell technology (LFP). These are characterized, above all, by a long service life and more usable energy. The batteries of the production eActros LongHaul can be charged from 20 to 80 percent in well under 30 minutes at a charging station with an output of about one megawatt. The core of the Mercedes-Benz Trucks concept for battery-electric long-distance transport is to offer customers a holistic solution consisting of vehicle technology, consulting, charging infrastructure and services. The eActros LongHaul is planned to be the right choice for customers in terms of profitability, sustainability and reliability. First prototypes are already undergoing intensive testing and the eActros LongHaul will be tested on public roads this year. In the coming year, near-production prototypes will go to customers for real-world use testing.
eActros 300 tractor unit for flexible use
The model variant of the eActros 300 as a tractor unit can pull all standard European semi-trailers, taking into account the maximum permissible total length. The e-truck is based on the same technology as the eActros 300/400. Three battery packs, each with an installed capacity of 112 kWh1, enable a range of up to 220 km on a single battery charge. Series production launch is planned for the second half of 2023.