Another eActros Begins Test Program In Germany

Another practical test of the battery-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros is starting at Inapa Deutschland, a paper wholesaler in Ettlingen, Germany. Inapa will use the heavy-duty electric truck for the distribution of paper packed on pallets to printers in the Karlsruhe, Germany, area. The vehicle has a range of approximately 200 km and will cover a distance of between 150 and 200 km each day. Its batteries will then be recharged overnight at Inapa’s depot in Ettlingen.

“Since 2018, we have been using the prototype of the eActros to gain important insights for the planned start of series production of the battery-electric truck in 2021,” said Rico Claassen, Fleet Customer manager at Mercedes-Benz Trucks. “With this important milestone in mind, we are testing the eActros every day in a wide range of applications together with our future-oriented customers as part of our innovation fleet. We are delighted that Inapa is now one of the customers whose experience and feedback is contributing to the series production of the battery-powered eActros.”

Since 2020, the eActros has been in the second phase of its practical testing as part of the Mercedes-Benz innovation fleet. One of the many findings gained during the practical tests is that the eActros’s range of about 200 km has proven to be realistic, regardless of payload, route or topography, the company said. The cooling system for the cargo, but also the air conditioning – both electrically operated – have been functioning without any limitation in both extreme heat and winter conditions.

The eActros is based on the chassis of the Mercedes-Benz Actros. The vehicle’s architecture is completely geared to electric drive and has a high proportion of specific parts. Drive is provided by two electric motors close to the rear axle wheel hubs with an output of 126 kW each and a maximum torque of 485 Nm. This results in 11,000 Nm each after the transmission ratio, which is a performance equivalent to that of a conventional truck. Lithium-ion batteries with 240 kWh supply the energy for the eActros. Depending on the available charging power, the batteries can be fully charged within three hours (at 80 kW).

The development and testing of heavy-duty electric trucks in distribution transport is being funded partially by the Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMU) and partially by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy (BMWi) as part of the Concept ELV² project.

“Environmental protection and sustainability are among our most important tasks in our business with paper and paper products,” said Frank Weithase, chief operating officer at Inapa Deutschland GmbH. “As a leading paper wholesaler, we bear a high level of responsibility going far beyond our immediate economic activities in the field of paper solutions. Of course, this also includes our transport logistics, which is entrusted with distributing our products. It is right here that the locally emission-free eActros contributes to our environmental strategy. We are looking forward to the upcoming practical use of the truck.”

The eActros will be launched as a two- and three-axle vehicle with series production scheduled to start in 2021 at the Wörth plant on the Rhine.