Contargo Takes Delivery of 20 eActros from Mercedes-Benz Trucks

As one of the first companies worldwide, Contargo today received 20 of the first series-produced battery-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 from Mercedes-Benz Trucks. The vehicles will be deployed immediately at various locations within the container hinterland logistics network for container transport between the port and customers. Another milestone towards more low-emission supply chains.

(Duisburg/Wörth am Rhein) The eActros 600 features a 600 kilowatt-hour battery capacity and an efficient electric drive axle. This allows the vehicle to achieve a range of around 500 kilometers – without intermediate charging. Michael Starke, Managing Director of Contargo Truck Fleet, emphasizes: “With this range, we can deploy the eActros 600 as flexibly as a diesel truck – even for long-distance transport.”

Own Fast Charging Network for Greater Efficiency

While the public charging infrastructure for electric trucks is still in need of development, Contargo is consistently investing in its own solutions. The company is building Germany’s largest private fast charging network at 14 locations. With 250 kW charging stations, the vehicles can be fully charged in just two hours. This enables operation in a two-shift system.

“For us, the handover of the first 20 eActros 600 to a pioneer and leader in sustainable freight transport marks a successful start to series production,” says Dr. Andreas Scharff, responsible for the sales of Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) and related ecosystem solutions at Daimler Truck. “It is all the more fitting, as Contargo has already been convinced of the performance of the eActros 600 during customer testing.”

Since April, Contargo has been testing the eActros 600 in real operations. The vehicle is used, among other things, in a shuttle service operating in two shifts between the port in Wörth am Rhein and various loading and unloading points. Andreas Roer, Managing Director of Contargo Wörth-Karlsruhe: “With one battery charge, we achieve an average range of 500 kilometers and reach a daily performance of up to 260 kilometers in a single-shift operation.”

Electric Truck Fleet of 60 Vehicles

With the new eActros 600, Contargo’s electric truck fleet now comprises 60 vehicles. This number will increase to 90 by summer 2025. Kristin Kahl, Head of Sustainability at Contargo: “With our growing electric truck fleet, eco-powered trains, and our new innovative inland vessels with electric motors and hybrid drive concepts, we offer our customers a low-emission supply chain. This allows them to save over 88 percent of the CO₂e emissions from their container transport.”

The delivery of the first eActros 600 marks a turning point in the logistics industry. With this premiere, Contargo demonstrates that sustainable heavy-duty logistics is already feasible today – and sets a precedent for the future of container transport.

Promotion of Light and Heavy Commercial Vehicles

The 20 eActros 600 were funded under the guidelines for the promotion of light and heavy commercial vehicles with alternative, climate-friendly drives and associated refueling and charging infrastructure (KsNI) by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport. A total of 86 electric trucks and the associated charging infrastructure are being funded. The funding guidelines are coordinated by NOW GmbH, and the applications were approved by the Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility.

Photo: © Contargo / Caption (l.r.): Michael Starke, Managing Director of Contargo Truck Fleet, Dr. Andreas Scharff, Head of eMobility Sales and Dealer Network Development Mercedes-Benz Trucks, and Kristin Kahl, Head of Sustainability at Contargo