The Mercedes-Benz eActros 300 tractor unit has successfully completed tests in the Tyrolean mountains, including the crossing of the Arlberg Pass in Austria.

For this test, engineers from Mercedes-Benz Trucks fully loaded the semitrailer to 40 tonnes. The tests in Tyrol covered a total distance of 111km, including Bludenz, Stuben, St. Anton and Lech, at times at an elevation of more than 1800m.

Mercedes-Benz Trucks subjected the tractor and trailer to tests to validate its performance and durability. A special focus was put on energy recovery through recuperation. During recuperation, energy gained during braking is returned to the eActros’ batteries and is then made available to the drive unit. In this way, the electric tractor unit was able to recover a total of around 180kWh of energy. At the end of the demanding tour, about 40% of the energy was still available.

“The tractor unit version of the eActros 300 expands the application options of the eActros for heavy-duty distribution transport,” said Stina Fagerman, head of sales, marketing and services at Mercedes-Benz Trucks.

“The intensive tests in Austria have shown our electric truck can reliably fulfill its tasks, even in a particularly challenging topography with extreme uphill and downhill grades.”

In total, the electric semi-trailer climbed 2300 meters in altitude during the test – the maximum grade was at 13%. On the way to the test area, the truck’s batteries were only charged at public charging stations.

Series production launch of the eActros 300 semitrailer tractor is planned for the second half of 2023.

The eActros 300 tractor model can pull all standard European semi-trailers, taking into account the maximum permissible total length. The electric semitrailer tractor is based on the same technology as the eActros 300/400.

Three battery packs, each with an installed battery capacity of 112kWh, enable a range of up to 220km on a single battery charge. The technological heart of the electric truck is the drive unit, an electric rigid axle with two integrated electric motors and a two-speed gearbox.

The two liquid-cooled motors generate a continuous output of 330kW and a peak output of 400kW. The eActros 300 tractor can be charged with up to 160kW: The three battery packs need a little more than an hour to be charged from 20 to 80% at a standard DC fast charging station with a charging current of 400A.