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Nov 6, 2020 at 7:30 AMThe transport and logistics specialist Van Mieghem Logistics begins practical testing of the Mercedes-Benz eActros in Belgium. The 25-ton truck will be used for the transport of pharmaceutical products and food. The electric refrigeration unit from Schmitz Cargobull enables emission-free, temperature-controlled transport.
(Stuttgart / Brussels) – Mercedes-Benz Trucks is continuously expanding the practical testing of the battery-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros: With the logistics company Van Mieghem Logistics, the first Belgian customer is putting the fully electric eActros into operation. The family-owned company, which specializes in both international and national transport and logistics services, is testing the eActros on daily routes of up to 200 kilometers around its headquarters in Saintes, Belgium.
Van Mieghem is initially using the Mercedes-Benz eActros for the delivery of medicines to hospitals and nursing homes. Further tasks for the eActros are already in planning. The 25-ton truck, with a range of around 200 kilometers, is equipped with a refrigeration swap body from Schmitz Cargobull, which is also electrically powered and thus emission-free. The batteries of the electric truck are charged overnight at the company yard.
Peter Brock, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Trucks Belgium and Luxembourg: “The fully electric eActros has successfully completed intensive customer tests in Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands since 2018. We are proud to now test the first eActros here in Belgium with the esteemed logistics specialist Van Mieghem Logistics.”
Laurent Van Mieghem, member of the management board of Van Mieghem Logistics: “The protection of natural resources is an essential part of our business activities. For this reason, we have already invested in solar panels for our new warehouse and are now examining the possibility of installing wind turbines on the company premises. This way, we can generate our own electricity for electric trucks and our warehouses in the future. Unlike electric trucks, our interest in CNG or LNG trucks has always been limited, as these still rely on fossil fuels. Our vehicle fleet consists of 90 percent Mercedes-Benz trucks. Therefore, we were particularly interested in participating in the practical tests of the Mercedes-Benz eActros. For our company, this is the right way to achieve a CO2-neutral transport solution. This approach contributes to our corporate value of sustainability and positions us as a leader in modern and environmentally friendly technologies.”
Refrigeration swap body with electric refrigeration unit from Schmitz Cargobull
The refrigeration swap body used by Van Mieghem’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 refrigeration unit works completely emission-free and is specifically designed for use in distribution traffic. In the second testing phase, the bodies of the vehicles will mostly be provided by Schmitz Cargobull.
Boris Billich, Sales Executive of Schmitz Cargobull: “Schmitz Cargobull is actively driving the development of environmentally friendly and sustainable transport concepts. The emission-free refrigeration swap body W.KO COOL is a successful result of these efforts. We are very pleased that Van Mieghem Logistics is now using the swap body with the eActros.”
Numerous insights gained from the first phase
Since 2020, the eActros has been in the second phase of its practical testing as part of the so-called “innovation fleet.” Among the numerous insights gained from the practical tests is that the approximately 200 kilometers range of the eActros has proven to be absolutely realistic – regardless of load, route profile, or topography. The eActros matches a conventional diesel truck in terms of availability and performance in urban traffic, highway, or long-distance journeys. The cooling system for the cargo, as well as the air conditioning – both electrically operated – have functioned without restrictions in extreme heat as well as in winter conditions. Drivers are very pleased with the continuous availability of torque across the entire speed range. They also report particularly on the quiet driving experience and a pleasant, calm driving feel. Additionally, with anticipatory driving through recuperation, i.e., engine braking, electrical energy can be recovered. It is then rarely necessary to engage 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 architecture of the vehicle is completely geared 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 provide 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 be significantly superior to 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 scheduled to start in 2021 at the Wörth plant on the Rhine. In addition, Daimler Trucks will embed the vehicle in a comprehensive ecosystem that also includes consulting services related to e-mobility. This includes route analyses, checking possible subsidies, support for operational fleet integration, and developing suitable charging infrastructure solutions.
www.daimler.com https://www.vanmieghem.com
Image: © Daimler AG
