A loaded near-production prototype of the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600, Daimler Truck’s long-haul battery-electric truck, has completed a round trip from Stuttgart to South Tyrol and back on one charge. The distance of 530 km each way confirms Mercedes’ promised 500 km range for the model.

The Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 is launching soon, with the world premiere of the production version on October 10 and series production starting in 2024. Meanwhile, the long-haul battery-electric truck is still completing its tests, with a recent trip from Stuttgart to the Alps proving the truck’s range.

>1 000 km with one recharge

The prototype truck received a load of 40 tons and was sent on its way for the 530 km trip from Stuttgart to Bolzano, which it managed to complete on one charge despite the challenging terrain. The trip took around 7 hours, and after a single charge, the eActros 600 was sent home again, completing a 1 000+ km trip with just one charging session

To recall, the Mercedes eActros 600 is powered by three battery packs, with a total capacity of 600 kWh. Mercedes promises a range of 500 km, while megawatt (1 000 kW) fast-charging allows the batteries to recover from 20 to 80 percent in under 30 minutes.

More power than the diesel

The eAxle on the rear has two electric motors, which deliver a continuous power output of 400 kW (544 hp), with a peak power of ‘over 600 kW’ (816 hp), which should help on uphill stretches of road. As a comparison, the current diesel-powered Actros tops out at 460 kW (625 hp), with the additional limitations of a traditional gearbox.

The eActros 600 was first shown at the IAA Transportation 2022 in Hannover when it was still called the eActros LongHaul. The concept prototype also featured an ‘eTrailer’, which supports the tractor with additional battery power integrated into the trailer. Daimler Truck promised a range of over 800 km on a single charge with an eActros and eTrailer combination.