Mercedes eActros Truck Overcomes Arlberg Pass

As part of a series of tests, the eActros 300, which was first presented at the IAA Transportation 2022 in Hanover, successfully crossed the Arlberg Pass in Austria as a tractor unit. For this, engineers from Mercedes-Benz Trucks loaded the tractor unit to 40 tons. The tests in Tyrol covered a total distance of 111 kilometers, including routes over Bludenz, Stuben, St. Anton, and Lech, reaching altitudes of over 1,800 meters.

(Stuttgart/Arlberg Pass) During this, the experts from Mercedes-Benz Trucks subjected the tractor unit along with the trailer to tests to validate performance and durability. A particular focus was also placed on energy recovery through recuperation, which can be extensively utilized in the alpine topography of Tyrol. In recuperation, the energy gained during braking is fed back into the eActros’s batteries and is then available again for propulsion. Thus, the electric tractor unit was able to recover around 180 kWh of energy. At the end of the challenging tour, about 40 percent of energy was still available.

Stina Fagerman, Head of Sales, Marketing, and Services at Mercedes-Benz Trucks: “The eActros 300 in the tractor unit variant expands the application possibilities of the eActros for heavy distribution transport. The intensive tests in Austria have shown that our electric truck can reliably perform its tasks even in particularly challenging topography with extreme inclines and declines.”

Overall, the electric tractor unit managed 2,300 meters of elevation gain during the testing process – with a maximum incline of 13 percent. The batteries of the tractor unit were charged exclusively at public charging stations on the way to the test area. The series launch of the eActros 300 tractor unit is planned for the second half of 2023.

Extensive Tests for Heavy Distribution Transport

In the past, the eActros for heavy distribution transport, which has been rolling off the production line in Wörth am Rhein since October 2021, has already been thoroughly tested. For example, near-series electric trucks have crossed the Alps in South Tyrol, managing a total of 54,000 meters of elevation gain during the testing process. The highest point was reached by the vehicles during measurement drives at the Kaunertal Glacier at 2,750 meters. In Granada, Spain, the eActros completed summer tests at very high temperatures up to 45°C, while it proved itself at the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi, Finland, in snow and ice with frosty temperatures of up to -25°C.

Tractor Unit for Flexible Deployments

The model variant of the eActros 300 as a tractor unit can pull all common European trailers, taking into account the maximum permissible total length. The electric tractor unit is based on the same technology as the eActros 300/400. Three battery packs with 112 kWh of installed battery capacity each enable a range of up to 220 km on a single battery charge. The technological heart of the electric truck is the drive unit, an electric rigid axle with two integrated electric motors and a two-speed transmission. The two liquid-cooled motors generate a continuous power of 330 kW and a peak power of 400 kW. The eActros can be charged with up to 160 kW: The three battery packs require just over an hour to charge from 20 to 80 percent at a typical DC fast charging station with 400 A charging current.

A short report and image material from the test drive:

https://media.daimlertruck.com/marsMediaSite/ko/de/52075592

[1] Nominal capacity of a new battery, based on internally defined framework conditions. This may vary depending on the application and environmental conditions.

[2] The range was determined under optimal conditions, including with 3 battery packs after preconditioning in partially loaded distribution transport with a semi-trailer at an outside temperature of 20°C, internally assessed.

[3] Based on internally determined empirical values under optimal conditions, including at an ambient temperature of 20°C.

Photo: © Mercedes-Benz Truck