There are more and more alternatives to using fossil fuels. After previously testing an electric highway in Sweden, Mercedes launches the first heavy-duty electric truck. The Urban eTruck was unveiled last week at the Daimler eTrucks Campus and should replace the diesel variant.
The truck is powered by completely emission-free electric propulsion, which ensures that the truck hardly makes any noise. As testing of this type of drive is still in full swing, the range still leaves something to be desired. The Mercedes truck can drive 'only' 200 kilometres, but otherwise the new type is hardly inferior to its diesel-powered predecessor. The truck has a maximum output of 2 times 125 kW with a maximum torque of twice 500 Nm. Torque at the wheel can reach 11,000 Nm when combined with acceleration. After the truck has driven 200 kilometres, the batteries need to be recharged which takes two to three hours. Because all parts of the special electric truck weigh a lot, the Urban eTruck carries an extra 1,700 kilos. Yet the truck can carry only 700 kilos less that a traditional truck.
Sustainable truck
The cabin the truck gets is heated by waste heat produced by the powertrain cooling system and the air conditioner runs on the cold air coming from the compressor that is electrically powered.
Not a first
Mercedes' electric truck is not the first electrically powered truck. Hytruck had the first three years ago. It developed an electric truck in collaboration with Heineken. Tesla and VDL are also working on new developments in electrictrucks. The official presentation of Mercedes' prototype is still some time away. It will take place at the end of September at the International Motor Show in Hanover.
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