Mercedes-Benz Trucks and Autobahn GmbH, an entity owned by the German Federal Government, jointly tested the battery-electric eActros 600 in winter service at the beginning of February. Autobahn GmbH used a prototype of the electric truck to treat roads on a section of the A2 highway between Hamm and Bielefeld with a semitrailer supplied by Epoke.
As preventive measure against ice, Autobahn GmbH used a brine made of water and salt as a more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional road salt. Mercedes-Benz says the semitrailer enables the spreading of brine at a speed of nearly 50 MPH, up to a width of 12 meters. According to Mercedes-Benz, the brine spreader is controlled wirelessly via a radio remote control and is powered independently of the tractor unit via the rear wheel of the semitrailer.
The eActros 600 was introduced last October, and Mercedes-Benz intends to start series production near the end of 2024. Mercedes-Benz intends the truck to be used for long-haul applications, saying the high battery capacity of more than 600 kilowatt hours (hence the model designation 600) and a new, particularly efficient electric drive axle developed in-house, enable the truck to achieve a range of more than 300 miles, without intermediate charging.
