A battery-powered Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 tractor unit has proven its capability in the UK by successfully completing a challenging five-day, 1,400-mile journey around the country.
Towing a standard road trailer and fully loaded at 40 tonnes GVW, the eActros 600 excelled in this year’s EV Rally event.
From July 1-5, the EV Rally 2024 saw 50 vehicles of various sizes and types embark on a tour from Oldbury in the West Midlands, visiting 26 locations corresponding to every letter of the alphabet, with creative interpretations for the letters X and Z.
Although open to all electric vehicles, only two trucks participated, and the eActros was the sole tractor unit. Day one covered a 258-mile drive with five intermediate checkpoints, ending in Carlisle. On day two, the route spanned 285 miles, concluding at the Daimler Truck UK complex at Wentworth Park, near Sheffield.
Day three featured the longest single day’s drive, a 366-mile journey to Cambridge, while day four’s leg involved a 315-mile drive to Exeter. The final stretch covered 265 electric miles through Wales, finishing in Chester. Along its route, the eActros visited numerous Mercedes-Benz truck dealers across the country.
James Venables, Daimler Truck UK’s Head of Future Sustainability, was part of the eActros driving team. Interviewed by Sara Sloman of the EV Rally Media Crew at the end of day two, he remarked, “You’ve definitely stolen the show this year – whenever the eActros turns up, heads turn.”
James concurred, adding, “The truck is big, bold, and exciting. Participating in this event has been great fun, but more importantly, we’ve demonstrated that our engineers were right when they said the truck can cover 500 km on a single charge.
“The EV Rally showcases today’s electric vehicles, proving that a multi-day marathon journey is very achievable with the current network of charging points. As the national infrastructure develops, it will only get easier.
“With its impressive range, potentially enhanced by energy recovery through recuperation, we believe our eActros 600 could have completed each day’s course without additional recharging. However, to demonstrate how easy it is to top up during a workday, we did stop at some designated charge points. Using a 350 kW charger, we were able to top up to 60% in about an hour, which was very impressive.”
James continued, “What we’ve shown, beyond any doubt, is that the eActros 600 can seamlessly integrate into most UK road transport applications, providing an option that’s entirely free of exhaust emissions while also being exceptionally smooth, quiet, and comfortable to drive.”
The Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 is now available for order through the manufacturer’s national Dealer Network, with production starting in December.
