Mercedes-Benz’s eActros 600 electric truck excels in hot-weather testing
Mercedes-Benz Trucks recently tested a prototype of its long-range electric truck, the eActros 600, in extreme heat in Andalusia, Spain. For five weeks, Mercedes engineers shook down every system on the truck, from itss electric powertrain and battery thermal management to its air conditioning system, to its fast charging capabilities, in summer temperatures of up to 111° F. The company reports that the electric truck passed the rigorous tests “with flying colors.”
After the extreme heat tests were completed, the eActros 600 drove over 2,000 km (1,243 miles) from Granada, Spain to the Mercedes-Benz Trucks development and testing center in Wörth am Rhein, Germany.
Successful summer testing of the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 in Spain
“After winter testing in Finland in freezing cold temperatures down to -25° C and initial tests on public roads, the electric truck now had to prove itself at over 40° C in Spain,” said Dr. Konrad Götz, Deputy Head of Global Testing at Mercedes-Benz Trucks. “The eActros 600 mastered the challenging tests with ease. In the next step, we’re now looking forward to testing in real-life operation with our customers.”
The eActros 600 has three lithium-iron phosphate battery packs with an installed total capacity of over 600 kWh. It has two electric motors with an output of 400 kW and a peak output of over 600 kW. In September, Mercedes said it would achieve a range of “around 500 km” (310 miles). Engineers have designed the eActros 600 to deliver 1.2 million km on the road over 10 years.
The eActros 600 will make its official debut on October 10, and it’s expected to go into production in 2024. A tractor unit and rigid variants will be offered at market launch.
