Mercedes-Benz Trucks with Innovative Solutions for the Energy Transition

With several new vehicle innovations, Mercedes-Benz Trucks presented itself to the public today. The focus was particularly on the electrification of the product portfolio. The company is committed to the Paris Climate Agreement, aiming for the decarbonization of the industry. A CO2-neutral transport on the roads by 2050 is the ultimate goal.

(Stuttgart/Wörth am Rhein) “At Mercedes-Benz Trucks, we are working hard to make road freight transport locally CO2-neutral. By 2030, we want to sell more electric trucks than non-electric ones in Europe,” states Karin Rådström, member of the board of Daimler Truck AG, responsible for Mercedes-Benz Trucks, at the event “Shaping the Now & Next 2021” as a goal for the coming years. “To achieve this, there is not one perfect solution, no royal road. Considering the many different applications of our customers, we are following a dual strategy – we are developing battery-electric and hydrogen-powered trucks. But there is still much more to do – both in terms of infrastructure and reliable legal frameworks.”

Series Production of the eActros Begins in October

Already fully electrified and locally CO2-neutral are the eActros, which was presented in June 2021 and will be produced in series in Wörth starting in October 2021 for heavy distribution traffic, as well as the eEconic, which will follow in the second half of 2022 for municipal use. Currently, intensive testing is still underway before the eEconic goes into practical testing with customers in the next step. The central technical specifications are largely identical to those of the eActros, and the eEconic is intended to cover the vast majority of Econic-typical waste collection routes without intermediate charging. Even before the start of series production, a company operating in the waste disposal sector in Denmark has ordered eleven eEconics. Series readiness for the also battery-electric eActros LongHaul is planned for 2024, and by 2027, the first series vehicles of the GenH2 Truck with hydrogen-based fuel cell drive are to be delivered to customers. Both vehicles will then also enable locally CO2-neutral road freight transport in long-distance traffic.

Finding Perfect Solutions for Customers

“Finding the perfect solution with and for our customers has always been something special for me – because every customer has individual needs and challenges that need to be addressed,” emphasizes Andreas von Wallfeld, Head of Sales, Marketing & Services at Mercedes-Benz Trucks. “To be true partners, we primarily do two things: First, we listen carefully to what our customers tell us. Second, we develop our trucks – whether classic diesel or electrified – and services in such a way that they serve one purpose: to contribute to our customers’ success.”

At today’s Mercedes-Benz Trucks event “Shaping the Now & Next 2021”, the manufacturer not only informed about fully electric vehicles but also presented consulting services such as eConsulting and strategic partnerships around topics like fleet integration, charging infrastructure, and network connectivity. Additionally, Mercedes-Benz Trucks showcased its latest models from the classic diesel segment, such as the Actros F, Actros L, and Edition 2.

Photo: © Daimler Truck / Image Caption: (from left to right) Andreas von Wallfeld, Head of Marketing, Sales, and Service at Mercedes-Benz Trucks. Karin Rådström, Board Member of Daimler Truck AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks.