Ritter Sport Uses Mercedes-Benz eActros for Production Supply

The Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co. KG. Starts the practical test with Mercedes-Benz eActros. The battery-electric 18-ton truck is used in shuttle traffic between warehouse and factory. A refrigerated swap body with electric cooling unit from Schmitz Cargobull enables emission-free temperature-controlled transport

(Stuttgart/Waldenbuch) – The battery-electric truck Mercedes-Benz eActros is now operating for the chocolate manufacturer Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co. KG. The family-owned company, specializing in square chocolate bars and based in Waldenbuch near Stuttgart, is testing the eActros for production supply on the route between the Dettenhausen warehouse and the production site in Waldenbuch. To ensure that nuts, almonds, foils, and packaging materials from the warehouse in Dettenhausen, located about seven kilometers away, reach the chocolate production on time, Ritter Sport is using the eActros in flexible shuttle operation. Additionally, the eActros supplies the “SchokoShop” – the factory outlet of Ritter Sport at the company headquarters in Waldenbuch – with freshly produced chocolate from the adjacent factory.

Range of about 200 kilometers

The 18-ton truck, with a range of about 200 kilometers, is equipped with a refrigerated swap body from Schmitz Cargobull that is also electrically powered and thus emission-free. The batteries of the electric truck are charged overnight at the Ritter Sport factory premises after the daily tours.

eActros for the Stuttgart area

Jasper Hafkamp, Head of Global Marketing Mercedes-Benz Trucks: “For more than two years, numerous customers have been intensively testing our battery-electric eActros for heavy distribution traffic in various applications. We are very pleased that Ritter Sport – the traditional manufacturer of the well-known square chocolate bars – is now also using the eActros for the demand-oriented supply of its production here in the Stuttgart area.”

Ritter Sport aims to protect natural livelihoods

Andreas Ronken, CEO of Ritter Sport: “As a family business, the protection of natural livelihoods is an integral part of our entrepreneurial actions. Our goal is to operate in harmony with people and nature. This naturally includes transport logistics as part of the supply chain. With the Mercedes-Benz eActros, we are now testing a CO2-neutral transport solution that aligns with our corporate values regarding sustainability and transparency.”

Refrigerated swap body with electric cooling unit from Schmitz Cargobull

The refrigerated swap body used by Alfred Ritter’s eActros is the “W.KO COOL” model from Schmitz Cargobull. It features optimized insulation for energy-efficient transport of refrigerated goods. The robust construction is ideal for intensive daily use. The purely electrically operated cooling unit works completely emission-free and is specifically designed for use in distribution traffic. Even in the second testing phase, the vehicle bodies are mostly provided by Schmitz Cargobull.

Boris Billich, Sales Board Member of Schmitz Cargobull: “In line with our brand core values of ‘reliable and innovative’, we, as a leading manufacturer of vehicle bodies, are constantly working on implementing environmentally friendly and future-proof transport concepts. With concepts like the emission-free refrigerated swap body installed on the eActros at Ritter Sport, we contribute to CO2 reduction and offer a sustainable system for optimized ecological transport and logistics solutions.”

Numerous insights gained from the first phase

Since 2020, the eActros has been in the second phase of its practical testing and is gradually being handed over to other customers as part of the so-called “innovation fleet”. Among the numerous insights gained from the practical tests is that the eActros’s range of about 200 kilometers has proven to be absolutely realistic – regardless of payload, route profile, or topography. In urban traffic, highway, or long-distance journeys, the eActros matches a conventional diesel truck in terms of availability and performance delivery. The cooling system for the cargo, as well as the air conditioning – both electrically operated – have functioned without limitations in extreme heat and winter conditions. Drivers are very pleased with the continuous availability of torque across the entire speed range. They also report particularly on the quiet operation and a pleasant, calm driving experience. Additionally, with anticipatory driving through recuperation, i.e., engine braking, electrical energy can be recovered. It is then rarely necessary to press the brake pedal.

The eActros: locally CO₂-neutral alternative for urban distribution traffic

The eActros is based on the chassis of the Mercedes-Benz Actros. Furthermore, the vehicle’s architecture is completely oriented towards electric drive and features a high proportion of specific parts. Two electric motors near the wheel hubs of the rear axle provide the drive with a power output of 126 kW each and a maximum torque of 485 Nm each. This results in a total of 11,000 Nm after the translation. A performance that is comparable 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 two hours (at 150 kW).

The development and testing of heavy electric trucks in distribution traffic is partially funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMU) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) as part of the “Concept ELV²” project.

The eActros in series: outstanding performance

The series eActros will significantly outperform the previous prototype in several aspects – such as range, drive performance, and safety. The eActros will be available as a two- and three-axle vehicle. Series production is expected to start in 2021 at the Wörth am Rhein plant. In addition, Daimler Trucks will embed the vehicle into a holistic ecosystem that also includes consulting services around e-mobility. This includes route analyses, checking possible subsidies, support for operational fleet integration, and developing suitable charging infrastructure solutions.

www.daimler.com    www.ritter-sport.de

Photo: © Daimler AG