Mercedes-Benz Trucks has taken the wraps off the new eActros 600, which is a long-haul electric semi that aims to set a “new standard in road freight transport.” Slated to go into production late next year, the eActros 600 has a “puristic design” that embraces soft curves and aerodynamic styling. Speaking of the latter, the semi has underbody paneling and air deflectors on the A-pillars. They’re joined by matrix LED headlamps and a purpose-built cab that was extended 80 mm for better aerodynamics.

The semi has a payload capacity of around 22 tons and it’s powered by three lithium iron phosphate batteries that give it a combined capacity of 621 kWh. This configuration promises a range of 500 km with Mercedes noting that roughly 60 percent of long-distance trips by their customers are shorter than this distance. As a result, as long as there’s charging infrastructure at loading and unloading points, customers shouldn’t have any issues with range anxiety.

For companies that need to travel farther, Mercedes said the eActros 600 can “travel significantly more than 1,000 km per day.” In particular, drivers can charge the semi when they’re taking their legally prescribed breaks. Tesla has not officially disclosed battery specifications for its Semi, but it is widely believed that the longhaul version has a battery capacity estimated to be in the range of 850-950 kWh, providing a range of approximately 500 miles or 804 km.

 

Mercedes-Benz Trucks designed the eActros 600 to have the same durability as the conventional heavy-duty long-haul Actros and this means the model shouldn’t have any problem traveling up to 1.2 million km in ten years of operation. The company added that even after that period, “the battery state of health should still be over 80 percent.” The batteries power a new 800-volt electric axle with two electric motors. They produce a continuous output of 536 hp as well as a peak output of 805 hp. The latter output is “available most of the time with almost no interruption in torque.”

The eActros 600 has a charging capacity of up to 400 kW, but the company eventually plans to offer megawatt charging. When it becomes available, the model could go from a 20-80% charge in around 30 minutes. While Mercedes noted the model will have a “purchase price that is around two to two and a half times higher than the diesel equivalent,” they said that in certain markets the eActros 600 could be more profitable in the long term. The exact breakdown depends on a variety of factors – including incentives and energy prices – but the company noted the advantages could begin “within the average vehicle holding period of around five years or after around 600,000 km.”