Daimler has just become the first truck manufacturer to unveil a 100% electric-powered heavy-duty commercial truck.
At the unveiling on July 27th, Daimler revealed the specs on the truck, named the Mercedes-Benz Urban eTruck. It’s using a standard Mercedes-Benz truck frame with a massive 212kWh battery pack, which hauling 26 tons will allow the truck to travel an average of…. 125 miles before recharging.
The mileage will make it suitable for only local delivery trips as the technology necessary for a fully electric OTR-capable vehicle seems to be still very far off.
By unveiling the truck, Daimler is the first to give a glimpse of what their all-electric truck will look like, but that does not mean that it’s ready for use. The company estimates that it won’t be ready to go into production until 2020 – and that’s only if battery cost decreases and efficiency increases as much as Daimler’s projections expect.
One interesting aspect of the design is that its modular battery pack allows for the addition or removal of batteries to fit different range requirements. Additionally, with the proper charging station, the batteries can be charged from empty to 100% in 2-3 hours.
Source: overdrive, electrik, repairerdrivennews, thestatesman, autondtv
Image Source: Daimler
Jon Grah says
Any comments or links to commercial HYBRID trucks? I would think that would work out to be much more economical for long haul. Use the batteries for city or starting up (worst fuel mileage), and then recharging can take place while cruising on expressway (best fuel mileage for diesel or any gas).
Giovanni says
Useless truck!!!
Seth Young says
why don’t they do it like train locomotives? basically giant rolling diesel generators with an electric motor on each wheel. they are diesel powered, same as now, only the engine can be smaller and more efficient (in the same spot even), except it’s just a generator that charges the power cell, that drives the electric motors at each wheel. electric motors have all the torque, all the time, and because they are just electromagnets, you could very likely get away with not even needing brakes, by using regenerative braking at every wheel that stores all that power back to the battery like a prius. stopping 80k lbs would probably generate a lot of electricity coming down a few west virginia hills. detroit and cummins keep getting to make engines, just now they are generators that can run constantly for years on a lot less fuel, like the industrial ones they already have. and emissions get cut by at least in half. now all that’s left is to get the power cells reliable and safe enough to not explode. they can store enough power now, just need to scale them up and get them sealed in enough armor to be safe for heavy duty industry use. i’m not an entre-manure, i just drive the thing. i’m telling you though, they should do this. and get mitsubishi to program the traction control from their lancer EVO, so that the truck straight won’t let you screw up, even on I-80 in january. all wheel drive, all the time.
Andrew H says
Hybrid ones make sense, as the most fuel inefficient activity is accelerating, but full electric wouldn’t even suit my LTL routes. Be good for CA and NY big cities though where you sit more than you drive. I’m okay with the concept as long as they don’t try to push it on everyone as the primary power unit. Maybe when we can go 800 miles and truck stops have charging stations.
Brandi says
Even if the truck stops had charging stations, how much you wanna bet they’ll be charging you for the service…
Groo says
Of course they would. Electricity costs money just like fuel costs money. Charging stations cost money just like fuel pumps cost money.
Willy says
Lessee… a 212 KWh battery recharge in 2 hours…
106 KWh would be 1000 volts at 106 amps, theoretical.
Real life with losses, 1000 volts at 130 amps.
That’s like an RV park. But nothing’s impossible with eco-nitwits.
Dave says
That truck would fill a nich.. I wonder if a truck could operate the same, or nearly the way train locomotive’s are propelled? I have a electric leaf now for getting to work. Wonder if the truck can re-gen?? Oh-Still have my Ram 2500 4×4 diesel.
In short that tech should work with some buses. Ever notice the bus exhaust is Nearly level with your face… aakkk
Robert Allard says
All of this electric innovation for big rig is just a way for companies that promote themselves to be green to get money form government grants it is a joke it will never go to be the main factor into moving heavy freight by truck.
Reason is very simple electric recharging unit almost non existent and the grid is already at full capacity during summer time the dams water level are lower in some areas so not too much kw/h being delivered.
The choice is simple stay away from these dreamers.
CW says
Combining a smaller diesel for compressor air and ac/heat and recharge of batteries, on the fly would do just fine. after all it works for trains….electric would be good for “city work” ….