Tomorrow’s trucks, today

The Mercedes-Benz Urban eTruck made its debut last year, and the first (low-volume) production vehicles are about to be delivered to their new custodians.

The company is bringing the world´s first all-electric, heavy-duty truck to market in a small series, with 20 potential German customers involved in the disposal, food and beverage and logistics sectors set to take delivery and pave the way towards series production by 2020.

“It will be used in real transportation applications. The aim is to use actual application scenarios and requirement profiles together with feedback from the customers to further optimise the vehicle concept and the system configurations of the electric truck. The tests will include use in shift operation, charging times as well as battery and range management,” says Stefan Buchner, head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks worldwide.

Both 18- and 25-t models will be equipped with a refrigerated body, as a dry box body and as a platform vehicle. Together with a special charger, which takes into account the increased demands on a truck, the vehicles will be handed over to the customers to use for a period of 12 months.

They will be supported by the Mercedes-Benz Trucks road-testing department. During this time, the use profiles and areas of application will be recorded and compared to the expected performance of the vehicles.