Capital Equipment News August 2021

ELECTRIC TRUCKS

is thus working hard to achieve its aim to achieve CO 2 -neutral goods transport using battery-electric and hydrogen-based fuel-cell technologies. The company identifies with the Paris Agreement’s aim to decarbonise the sector and wishes to completely switch its European product portfolio over to electrically powered trucks by 2039. Speaking at the virtual world premiere of the eActoss held on June 30, 2021, Karin Rådström, member of the Board of Management at Daimler Truck AG and responsible for Mercedes-Benz Trucks, said: “We have to acknowledge that transport is a part of the problem when it comes to climate change. At the same time, we can and we will be part of the solution. We start with our eActros. We developed this truck together with our customers, and we tested it together – all in all more than half- a-million kilometres on public roads. The eActros and its dedicated services are a big step for Mercedes-Benz Trucks and for our customers towards CO 2 -neutral transport.” After Mercedes-Benz Trucks had presented the concept vehicle for a heavy- duty distribution haulage truck for urban areas at the IAA 2016 for Commercial Vehicles in Hanover, Germany, practical testing of 10 eActros prototypes in cooperation with customers in Germany and other European countries began in 2018. The objective of the “eActros Innovation Fleet” was to launch a series-ready eActros on the market in 2021. “Development of the eActros focused on the partnership with our customers. Everything that we learned from the Innovation Fleet is now being incorporated in series production. Compared with the prototypes, several features such as range, drive power and safety have been considerably improved in the series- production model,” explains Andreas von Wallfeld, head of Marketing, Sales and Services at Mercedes-Benz Trucks. First fully-electric series-production truck The eActros from Mercedes-Benz Trucks is now the first fully-electric series-production truck bearing the three-pointed star and thus marks an important step in the direction of CO 2 -neutral goods transport. Further steps for long-distance haulage are also in the pipeline: series production of the low-floor Mercedes-Benz eEconic truck is expected to start in 2022. In addition to this, the battery-electric eActros LongHaul is expected to be launched in 2024 and the GenH2 Truck with hydrogen-based fuel cell will come in the second half of this decade. From Q3 2021, the series production model will be produced at Mercedes- Benz Trucks’ largest truck assembly plant

On June 30, Mercedes-Benz Trucks celebrated the world premiere of its battery-powered eActros for heavy-duty distribution.

e Actros – setting the benchmark in carbon-neutral goods transport With the world premiere of its battery-powered eActros, the first fully-electric series-production truck bearing the three-pointed star, Mercedes-Benz Trucks is ringing in a new era and simultaneously highlighting its clear desire to achieve CO 2 -neutral long-distance haulage. By Munesu Shoko .

“We have to acknowledge that transport is a part of the problem when it comes to climate change. At the same time, we can and we will be part of the solution. We start with our eActros. We developed this truck together with our customers, and we tested it together – all in all more than half-a-million kilometres on public roads.” Karin Rådström, member of the Board of Management at Daimler Truck AG and responsible for Mercedes-Benz Trucks

“This is certainly a giant step towards an electrically driven future and we are proud to be a part of a brand that is continuously at the forefront of developing cutting-edge solutions for customers. As we wait in great anticipation to officially launch this truck of the future in the South African market, we look forward to possible customer demonstrations and trial opportunities.”

Maretha Gerber, vice president: Sales & marketing at Mercedes-Benz Trucks Southern Africa

TALKING POINTS

T he logistics sector is facing a massive set of challenges: on the one hand,

environmental regulations are getting even more demanding, while on the other, the global transport volume is increasing. The increasing volume of goods needs to be transported as sustainably and efficiently as possible. In view of its social responsibility for climate protection, Mercedes-Benz Trucks

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