Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 Enters Customer Testing with Contargo and Remondis

Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 Enters Customer Testing with Contargo and Remondis

(IN BRIEF) Mercedes-Benz launches the customer testing phase for its battery-electric eActros 600, with Contargo and Remondis as the pioneering partners. The e-trucks, set to revolutionize long-distance haulage, will be utilized by Contargo for container transport between Wörth am Rhein and various locations, covering over 800 kilometers daily, and by Remondis for recycled raw material transportation in Cologne as part of the HoLa-project. This milestone underscores Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to sustainable transport solutions and marks a significant step towards decarbonization in the logistics sector. The eActros 600, equipped with over 600 kWh battery capacity and advanced charging capabilities, aims to redefine profitability and environmental consciousness in long-haul transportation.

(PRESS RELEASE) LEINFELDEN-ECHTERDINGEN/WÖRTH AM RHEIN/DUISBURG/LÜNEN, 17-Apr-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — The battery-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 goes into customer testing. The first two test vehicles of the e-truck for long-distance haulage presented last year will be successively put into operation in the next few weeks by container logistics company Contargo and recycling specialist Remondis. Both companies are part of the global Rethmann Group. Contargo will use its e-truck for several months for the transportation of containers between the port of Wörth am Rhein and various loading and unloading points. The vehicle is planned to cover more than 800 kilometers a day. In a first step, the vehicle will be charged at a fast-charging station at the Contargo terminal in Karlsruhe. In the near future, Contargo is planning to set up its own charging infrastructure at its depot. According to Contargo, the company is currently building the largest private charging network for heavy-duty electric trucks in Germany, with 90 charging points at 18 locations.

Remondis will use the test vehicle in Cologne as part of the so-called HoLa-project. The objective of HoLa is the construction and operation of a high-performance charging infrastructure for battery-electric long-distance transport. In addition to Daimler Truck, other consortium partners from industry and research institutes are also involved in the project. The test vehicle for Remondis is primarily used for the transportation of recycled raw materials and is equipped with a trailer by Kögel.

Mercedes-Benz Trucks plans to hand over further test vehicles to customers with different use cases.

Stina Fagerman, Head of Marketing, Sales and Services at Mercedes-Benz Trucks: “The testing of e-trucks with customers before the start of production has proven very successful. This is why we are also relying on practical tests for the eActros 600. We are very pleased that Contargo and Remondis will be the first customers to test the eActros 600 in real operation.”

Michael Starke, CEO of Rhenus Trucking GmbH & Co. KG: “We are ‘electrified’ and are consistently implementing projects for decarbonization. That’s why it is a pleasure and a logical consequence for us to be part of the customer testing project from the very beginning. The eActros 600 will set new standards! We are receiving the very first e-truck for testing. In addition, last year, we ordered 20 of these vehicles. This means that we will also be one of the first companies to have them on the road, which will make our e-tours for container logistics and national long-distance haulage easier.”

Andreas Roer, CEO of Contargo Wörth-Karlsruhe GmbH: “820 kilometers a day – for this we are now using the eActros 600 in two-shift operation. Thanks to our powerful charging infrastructure, this use case is ideal for the vehicle.”

Sascha Hähnke, CEO of Remondis Sustainable Services GmbH: “As one of the world’s leading companies for recycling, water management and municipal and industrial services, sustainability is part of our everyday lives. We have already gained many valuable experiences with electric trucks over the past few years. For us, it was therefore just natural to be the first company to participate in customer testing of the eActros 600. Especially in the circular economy, everything starts with logistics. We are delighted to be able to take another step towards climate neutrality with the electric truck.”

Remondis relies on Kögel trailer for the eActros 600 test

The Kögel Cargo is the flagship of the Kögel trailer series and also the best-selling trailer of the manufacturer from Burtenbach. Its high degree of customization, outstanding reliability and high payload make the Kögel Cargo the first choice for the transport industry. But it is not only the product benefit that is the focus of this collaboration. It is above all the understanding of sustainable transport solutions that unites Remondis and Kögel. “We were impressed by the consistent advancement of a sustainability strategy at Remondis,” says Christian Renners, CEO of Kögel Trailer GmbH. “As a leading trailer manufacturer, we are equally committed to acting sustainably. However, the concept of sustainability at Kögel includes not only the environment, but also customers, employees and partnerships. We have the same understanding here as Remondis.”

The Mercedes-Benz eActros 600

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 e-truck to achieve a range of 500 kilometers[1] without intermediate charging. Therefore, the eActros 600 will be able to travel significantly more than 1,000 kilometers per day. This is made possible by intermediate charging during the legally prescribed driver breaks – even without megawatt-charging.

In addition to CCS charging with up to 400 kW, the eActros 600 will later also enable megawatt charging (MCS). Customers can order a pre-installation for this. The batteries can be charged from 20 to 80 percent in about 30 minutes[2] at a suitable charging station with an output of around one megawatt.

Visually, the e-truck is characterized by a fundamentally new, puristic design with clear lines and an aerodynamic shape. When it comes to profitability for fleet operators, the electric truck is intended to set new standards, over the long term replacing the majority of diesel trucks in the important long-haul transport segment. The core of Mercedes-Benz Trucks‘ concept for battery-electric long-distance transport is to offer customers a holistic solution consisting of vehicle technology, consulting, charging infrastructure and services.

The start of series production is planned for the end of 2024. In addition to the tractor unit, Mercedes-Benz Trucks will also produce rigid variants of the eActros 600 right from market launch, offering customers further possible applications for all-electric transport.

About Contargo

With an annual transport volume of 2 million TEU, Contargo is one of the largest container logistics networks in Europe. Contargo integrates container transport between the western ports, the German North Sea ports and the European “hinterland”. Contargo has 24 container terminals in Germany, France and Switzerland as well as other locations in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Poland. The company also operates its own ship and rail lines. More than 1,340 employees generated annual sales of 654 million Euros in 2023.

About Remondis

Remondis is one of the world’s leading private companies in recycling, service and water, providing services to around 30 million people. Remondis has a presence in more than 30 countries on three continents through subsidiaries and shares in companies. Founded in 1934, the family-owned company with more than 40,000 employees generates an annual turnover of 11.8 billion Euros (2023). Remondis makes a significant contribution to the protection of the environment and resources across many business units. From the recovery of valuable raw materials from industrial and household waste to the production of high-quality recycled raw materials and the conversion of non-recyclable residues into fuels. Last but not least, the company is increasingly contributing to the energy transition by using biomass as an energy source. In doing so, Remondis regards itself worldwide as a point of contact and consultant for industry, trade and municipalities in order to find regional and individual solutions.

About Kögel

Kögel is one of the leading trailer manufacturers in Europe. With its commercial vehicles and transport solutions for the freight forwarding and construction industry, the company has been offering engineering-led quality “Made in Germany” for 90 years. Kögel regards it as its responsibility to design transport and logistics processes in an environmentally and climate-friendly manner in agreement with the public sphere and customers. The corporate principle ‘Economy meets Ecology – Because we care’ is a promise: Kögel supports all customers with outstanding expertise, in-depth industry knowledge and, above all, long-lasting, ecologically and economically sustainable products in lightweight construction. The company headquarters and main production site is in Burtenbach, Bavaria. www.koegel.com

[1] The range was determined internally under specific test conditions, after preconditioning with a 4×2 tractor unit with 40t 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] Based on internal simulations since a binding and uniform Megawatt Charging System (MCS) standard is currently under development.

Media Contacts:

AKIM ENOMOTO
Spokesperson Mercedes Benz Truck Product, Service & eTruck
akim.enomoto​@daimlertruck.com
+49 176 30995099

PETER SMODEJ
Head of Communications Product & Corporate Mercedes-Benz Trucks / Daimler Buses
peter.smodej​@daimlertruck.com
+49 176 30936446

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

SOURCE: Daimler Truck AG