Mercedes-Benz Trucks electrifies delivery to Wörth plant
In the pilot phase electrically powered Mercedes-Benz eActros 300 tractors will be utilized. Later, the eActros LongHaul and other models will be added. Mercedes-Benz Trucks is thus demonstrating the wide range of applications of these two e-truck models under real-world conditions in the company’s own transport logistics.
Holistic transport solution from analysis to implementation
The core of Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ concept for battery-electric long-distance transport is to offer customers a holistic transport solution comprised of vehicle technology, consulting, charging infrastructure and services. In order to develop a targeted concept for zero-emission delivery logistics to the Wörth plant the first step is to work with freight forwarders to analyse their regular routes. This provides information on travel times and distances between delivery locations, charging options and individual truck ranges. They also receive support integrating e-trucks into their existing fleets and in realigning their logistics centers, including advice on setting up the appropriate in-house charging infrastructure. In a next step, plans are to extend this process to other plants in the Mercedes-Benz Trucks production network.
Around 50 charging points planned at Wörth plant
An integral part of the future inbound logistics concept of Mercedes-Benz Trucks for emission-free delivery traffic includes establishing a charging infrastructure at the Wörth site. Approximately 50 charging columns, including megawatt charging stations for high-performance battery charging, are planned at key points for delivery traffic in the immediate vicinity of production at the Wörth plant. Parts used in production are delivered just-in-time to the assembly line. In the future, the time during which the e-truck’s cargo is unloaded will be used to recharge the vehicle’s battery. In this way, the vehicle ideally does not have to schedule further downtime and can resume its route directly after parts delivery. In addition, the possibility of re-bundling and thus optimizing delivery flows in the transport network in a new consolidation center near the site is currently being examined.
Series production launch of eActros 300 tractor unit scheduled for 2023
The eActros LongHaul, which is important for the long-haul segment, is scheduled to be ready for series production in 2024. The series-production vehicle has a range of around 500 kilometers on a single battery charge and will be capable of high-performance or so-called megawatt charging. As early as 2030 commercial vehicles that are CO2-neutral in driving mode are expected to account for up to 60 percent of Daimler Truck sales in EU30 markets.
Daimler Truck is also participating in the “High-Performance Charging in Long-Distance Truck Transport” (HoLa) project. Under the auspices of the German Association of the Automotive Industry, the aim of this initiative is to plan, build and operate a select high-performance charging infrastructure for long-distance battery-electric truck transport
