Mercedes-Benz Trucks delivered a fully electric eActros for on-road testing to EDEKA. The German retail association will be testing a 25-tonne truck with refrigerated body for one year in Berlin, where it will be used to transport fresh, temperature-sensitive foodstuffs in Germany’s capital.

The daily route from the warehouse in Grünheide on the outskirts of Berlin to various EDEKA supermarket branches in the city centre and surrounding areas is between 150 and 300 km. The vehicle will operate in a double shift pattern. The weight of the transported goods can be up to 10 tonnes. During loading and unloading, the vehicle is charged to ensure that the total range of the eActros (up to 200 km with a single battery charge) is optimally utilised. EDEKA is the only company from the retail sector in Germany, which will use the eActros in its own fleet of vehicles.

The symbolic handover of the vehicle to EDEKA took place at the Gasometer in the Berlin-Schöneberg district. In addition to representatives from Mercedes-Benz Trucks, EDEKA and truck body manufacturer Schmitz Cargobull, Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, also took part in the event.

Two-year test with 20 customers – series production starting in 2021

EDEKA is one of a group of 20 customers – all from various industries – that are now integrating the heavy-duty electric truck into their fleets. Each of these selected customers will put a near-series version of either the 18 or 25-tonne variant through its paces in real operations and will test the respective vehicle for its suitability for their daily field of work. The aim of Mercedes-Benz Trucks is to make emission-free and quiet driving a reality in cities from the year 2021, also with series heavy-duty trucks – and all of this as economically viable as with a diesel truck. The test series consists of two phases, each with ten customers and spanning a total of around two years. The development and testing of the heavy-duty electric truck in short-radius distribution operations is sponsored as part of the “Concept ELV” project to varying degrees by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMU) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi).

EDEKA is making a valuable contribution ahead of the market launch

Andreas von Wallfeld, Head of Marketing, Sales and Services for Mercedes-Benz Trucks: “We are delighted that EDEKA – a long-standing customer – is now also testing the eActros. Thanks to their practical deployment of the eActros, EDEKA is making a valuable contribution to the truck’s further development ahead of its market launch. It goes without saying that we are very thankful to the retail association for their active support. Our previous results from numerous tests have been nothing less than very positive. The 200 km range, for example, is totally realistic, and the cooling and air-conditioning systems have performed well, even during this year’s record-hot summer.”

“We would also like to thank the German Federal Ministry for the Environment and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy for their support in developing and testing our eActros fleet as part of the funding project,” continues Wallfeld.

Future technologies play a key role for EDEKA

EDEKA itself is also eagerly awaiting the results of the on-road testing: “Being involved with future technologies plays a key role for EDEKA as a driver of innovation in the retail sector,” affirms Rolf Lange, Head of Corporate Communications at EDEKA’s Hamburg headquarters. “We are already committed to reducing emissions in many areas – particularly when it comes to logistics. This is where electric mobility comes in as it presents many opportunities but also poses several challenges. We look forward to gaining valuable experience with this on-road test in Berlin.”

Removable container with electric cooling unit from Schmitz Cargobull

The removable container on the eActros used by EDEKA is the “W.KO COOL” model supplied by Schmitz Cargobull. It has optimum insulation for energy-efficient transport of refrigerated goods. This robust body is ideally suited for intensive day-to-day use. Cooled entirely by electricity, the cooling unit is totally emission-free and is specially designed for use in distribution transport. “Electric mobility for commercial vehicles is a highly significant topic that opens up new opportunities. We will utilize them with our refrigerated unit. We can gain valuable experience on the critical factor of shared energy management between the truck and cooling unit through joint testing with Mercedes-Benz Trucks,” says Boris Billich, Member of the Board of Management for Sales at Schmitz Cargobull.

eActros replaces conventional diesel-powered trucks

The first eActros of the “innovation fleet” has been in service at a customer since September. The rest of the first phase of vehicle hand-overs will be completed by the end of the year. All test customers operate in short-radius distribution and use the eActros for tasks which would otherwise be carried out by conventional diesel vehicles – the customers cover a broad spectrum of different sectors and categories. The palette ranges from food to building and industrial materials. The bodies vary from refrigeration units to dry containers, silos or tarpaulin-covered units.

The eActros is based on the frame of the Mercedes-Benz Actros. Also, the eActros means architecture based entirely on electric drive with a large proportion of specific parts. For example, the drive axle is based on the ZF AVE 130, which has proved its worth in hybrid and fuel cell buses from Mercedes-Benz and has now undergone a major modification for the eActros. The drive comes from two electric motors near the wheel hubs on the rear axle. Their output is 126 kW each, and the maximum torque is 485 Nm each. Downstream of the transmission that is 11 000 Nm each. The driving output is therefore on a level with a diesel truck. The maximal permitted axle load is the usual 11.5 tonnes. The energy is stored in lithium-ion batteries with a capacity of 240 kWh. Depending on the available charge, fully charging takes between two and eleven hours (at 150 or 20 kW).

Daimler commercial vehicles with an extensive electric portfolio

Daimler has had experience of working with electric trucks since 2010 and since last year its first fully electric series production truck has been on the market and used by customers: the lightweight Fuso eCanter truck. In the bus sector, the first Mercedes-Benz eCitaro will be delivered from the end of the year and will go into operation in so-called customer-related test-driving. In the van sector, the eVito from Mercedes-Benz Vans has been available for pre-ordering since November 2017 and the first deliveries are due very soon. In 2019 the eSprinter will follow. The vehicles from Daimler Trucks, Daimler Buses and Mercedes-Benz Vans thus cover the entire range of urban traffic with electric vehicles.