Daimler Trucks has revealed a number of advanced vehicle innovations from its Mercedes-Benz brand in an on line public event in Germany particularly aimed at enabling the company to meet the target of C02 neutral transport by 2050.
Mercedes Benz’ focus was especially on the electrification of vehicles with the company closely aligned with the Paris Climate Agreement and its aim of decarbonising the sector.
“At Mercedes-Benz Trucks we are fully committed to locally CO2-neutral transport,” explained Daimler Trucks’ board member in charge of Mercedes Benz, Karin Rådström.
“In 2030, we want more than half of our new vehicles sold in Europe to be locally emission-free,” Rådström said at the “Shaping the Now and Next 2021” event.
“To make that happen, there is no one-size-fits-all, no silver bullet, and In line with the different use cases of our customers, we follow a dual electrification strategy based on battery- and fuel cell-electric trucks,” she said.
“But there is more action needed – in terms of infrastructure as well as a reliable regulatory framework,” she added.
Mercedes has revealed its battery electric eActros heavy distribution truck is set to go into full-scale production at its Wörth factory in Germany from next month (October) while its eEconic specialised waste truck will follow in the second half of 2022.
Intensive testing is still underway with the eEconic before it enters trials with customers next year.
Rådström says the key technical specifications are largely identical between the eActros and the eEconic waste collection truck with the two sharing electrical drivelines with both designed to cover the vast majority of the typical distribution or waste collection routes with no need for interim charging.
Rådström also said that Even though full-scale production of eEconic is yet to start a waste disposal company in Denmark has already placed an order for eleven eEconic waste trucks.
Daimler has signalled that from 2024 the eActros LongHaul will be ready for series production and in 2027 it expects to have the first series-production hydrogen fuel cell powered GenH2 Trucks rolling off the production line.
“Working with and for our customers to find the perfect solution has always been something special to me – because every customer has their own individual requirements and challenges that need to be met,” said Mercedes-Benz Trucks head of marketing, sales and services, Andreas von Wallfeld.
“To be real partners, we do two main things, firstly we listen really carefully to what our customers are saying, secondly we develop our trucks – no matter whether they have classic diesel engines or are electrified – and services to serve a particular purpose: to contribute to the success of our customers,” said von Wallfeld.
