Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 Becomes First Battery-Electric Semi-Truck to Complete the Arctic eNordkapp Challenge

Premiere at the Arctic Circle: VEGA’s eActros 600 conquers the eNordkapp Challenge as the first battery-electric truck

(IN BRIEF) Mercedes-Benz’s battery-electric eActros 600 became the first electric semi-trailer truck to complete the eNordkapp Challenge, successfully covering roughly 8,000 kilometers from Germany to Norway’s North Cape in extreme Arctic winter conditions. Operated by VEGA International and driven by Herbert and Silvia Salentinig, the truck hauled a vehicle transport trailer carrying a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with a total weight of 32.5 tons, proving its real-world long-haul capability. Aside from winter tires, the vehicle remained largely unchanged and handled difficult charging situations along the route. Mercedes-Benz Trucks highlighted that the eActros 600 has already completed extensive European testing, won the International Truck of the Year 2025 award, and is designed for up to 1.2 million kilometers of service with durable LFP batteries. With around 500 kilometers of range at 40 tons, three battery packs totaling 621 kWh, and more than 40 configuration options, the eActros 600 reinforces its position as a flagship battery-electric long-haul truck.

(PRESS RELEASE) LEINFELDEN-ECHTERDINGEN/WALS-SIEZENHEIM, 2-Feb-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Mercedes-Benz marked a milestone in electric long-haul transport when its battery-electric eActros 600 became the first semi-trailer truck ever to take part in the eNordkapp Challenge — an approximately 8,000-kilometer winter expedition from Germany to Arctic Norway. The annual event, held since 2018 at the end of December, is reserved exclusively for fully electric vehicles and culminates at Norway’s North Cape, the northernmost point in Europe reachable by road. Over ten demanding days, the eActros 600 demonstrated its resilience, performance, and reliability in extreme conditions, including temperatures dropping as low as minus 41 degrees Celsius.

The participating eActros 600 was provided by Austrian logistics company VEGA International CarTransport & LogisticTrading GmbH and operated by drivers Herbert and Silvia Salentinig. Their route led from northern Germany through Denmark and across central Sweden along the Inlandsvägen highway before reaching the North Cape. For the journey, VEGA selected an eActros 600 paired with a vehicle transport semi-trailer carrying a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, resulting in a total gross vehicle weight of 32.5 metric tons — a configuration that the company also deploys in its regular commercial operations.

Aside from the installation of specialized winter tires, the eActros 600 remained largely unchanged from its standard production specification. Throughout the challenge, the electric truck proved capable of handling not only the extreme cold but also the practical difficulties of charging in remote locations. The VEGA team encountered real-world obstacles such as having to unhitch the trailer to access chargers, coping with charging cables that were too short, and dealing with frozen card readers at some stations — yet the vehicle performed reliably throughout the journey.

Upon arriving at the North Cape, driver Herbert Salentinig described the eActros 600 as a dependable and robust vehicle that delivered consistent performance even under the harshest Arctic conditions, underscoring its suitability for demanding long-haul operations.

About the eActros 600

Mercedes-Benz Trucks celebrated the series launch of the eActros 600 at its Wörth plant at the end of November 2024, with customer deliveries beginning in December of the same year.

Even before the eNordkapp Challenge, the model had already demonstrated its capabilities in several extensive real-world tests, including operations well above the Arctic Circle. During the more than 15,000-kilometer “eActros 600 European Testing Tour 2024” across 22 countries, the vehicle reached Europe’s northernmost point for the first time. It also completed the approximately 6,500-kilometer “European Testing Tour Winter 2025” through Northern Europe, each time operating at a gross combination weight of 40 tons. In recognition of its technological innovation and operational performance, the eActros 600 was named “International Truck of the Year 2025” by a jury of 24 leading European commercial vehicle journalists.

The eActros 600 is equipped with a battery capacity of more than 600 kilowatt hours — reflected in its model designation — and a newly developed, highly efficient electric drive axle created in-house by Mercedes-Benz Trucks. Under realistic long-haul conditions with a gross combination mass of 40 tons, the truck can achieve a range of around 500 kilometers without intermediate charging. Depending on driving style and route, it can also cover well over 1,000 kilometers per day by using fast charging during legally required driver rest breaks, provided suitable infrastructure is available.

The vehicle features three battery packs, each with a nominal capacity of 207 kWh, giving a total installed capacity of 621 kWh. These batteries are based on lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cell technology, which is known for its durability, thermal stability, and long service life. Mercedes-Benz Trucks designed the eActros 600 to meet the same durability standards as its conventional heavy-duty Actros models, targeting up to 1.2 million kilometers of operation over ten years. After this period, the battery state of health is expected to remain above 80 percent, with more than 95 percent of the installed capacity usable throughout its lifetime.

Technically, the eActros 600 is designed for a gross combination mass of up to 44 tons. With a standard semitrailer configuration in the European Union, it offers a payload of approximately 22 tons, with potential for higher payloads in markets where national regulations permit.

To better meet diverse customer needs, Mercedes-Benz Trucks has recently expanded its battery-electric portfolio by introducing additional variants based on the eActros 600 platform. Depending on requirements for range, payload, and driver comfort, customers can choose between two cab versions, configurations with two or three battery packs, multiple wheelbases, and new axle layouts. As a result, the second generation of the eActros offers more than 40 base vehicle variants, all incorporating the core features of the eActros 600, including LFP battery technology and the specially developed electric drive axle.

About the eActros 600

Mercedes-Benz Trucks celebrated the series launch of the eActros 600 at the end of November 2024 the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth. Deliveries to customers began in December 2024.

The electric flagship from Mercedes-Benz Trucks has already proven its capabilities several times under real-life conditions  — including far above the Arctic Circle. During the more than 15,000‑kilometer “eActros 600 European Testing Tour 2024” across 22 countries, the eActros 600 reached Europe’s northernmost point for the first time. It also completed the roughly 6,500‑kilometer “European Testing Tour Winter 2025” through Northern Europe — each time operating at a gross combination weight of 40 tons. In addition, the e-truck was voted “International Truck of the Year 2025”. The award is the most important prize in the industry and is presented annually by the International Truck of the Year (IToY) organization, consisting of 24 commercial vehicle journalists from Europe.

The high battery capacity of over 600 kilowatt hours – hence the model designation 600 – and a new, particularly efficient electric drive axle developed in-house enable the eActros 600 to achieve a range of 500 kilometers[1] without intermediate charging. This range is accomplished under very realistic and practical conditions with a gross combination mass of 40 tons, which can also be significantly exceeded depending on the driving style and the route. The eActros 600 will even be able to cover well over 1,000 kilometers per day. Intermediate charging during statutory driver breaks makes this possible, provided that charging options are available.

The eActros 600 has three battery packs, each with 207 kWh[2]. These offer an installed total capacity of 621 kWh. The batteries are based on lithium iron phosphate cell technology (LFP) and are characterized by a long service life. The development engineers at Mercedes-Benz Trucks designed the eActros 600 to meet the same requirements for the durability of vehicles and components as a comparable conventional heavy-duty long-haul Actros. This means up to 1.2 million kilometers in ten years of operation. After this period of use, the battery state of health should still be above 80 percent. In contrast to other battery cell technologies, more than 95 percent of the installed capacity can also be used with LFP technology. This facilitates a higher range with the same installed battery capacity. The vehicle is technically designed for a gross combination mass of up to 44 tons. With a standard semitrailer, the eActros 600 has a payload of around 22 tons in the EU. There might be cases in which national law allows higher payloads.

In order to meet even more customer requirements, Mercedes-Benz Trucks recently expanded its battery-electric truck portfolio with additional variants based on the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600. Depending on their requirements in terms of range, payload, and comfort, customers will be able to choose between two cab variants, two or three battery packs, numerous wheelbases, and new axle configurations. The second model generation of the eActros thus offers over 40 variants of the base vehicle. The new vehicle versions feature the key characteristics of the eActros 600, such as LFP battery technology and the specially developed eAxle.

[1] The range was determined internally under specific test conditions, after preconditioning with a 4×2 tractor unit with a 40 tons total towing weight at 20°C outside temperature in long-haul operation and may deviate from the values determined in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/2400.
[2] Nominal capacity of a new battery, based on internally defined boundary conditions. This may vary depending on the application and ambient conditions.

Media Contacts:

Ulrike Burkhart
Spokesperson Mercedes-Benz Trucks Product, Service & eTruck
ulrike.burkhart​@daimlertruck.com
+49 160 861 3757

Katrin Fischer
Spokesperson Mercedes-Benz Trucks Product, Service & eTruck
katrin.fischer​@daimlertruck.com
+49 176 30966698

SOURCE: Daimler Truck AG