Mercedes unveils refrigerated eActros electric demonstrator

Mercedes-Benz Trucks UK^[1] commissioned truck bodybuilder, Solomon Commercials^[2] to launch the UK’s first fridge-bodied eActros electric truck.

The 19tonne GVW unit, based on a 4×2 eActros 300, is a fully operational vehicle and is available for live demonstrations to operators across the country.

It is fitted with three battery packs, for a total capacity of 336kWh, to deliver a range of up to 330km (205miles). The batteries can be recharged from 20% back up to 80% in just 75 minutes, using a  rapid 160kW DC charger.

The eActros was designed from the ground up as an electric truck, with twin electric motors located within the rear eAxle. Having no prop shaft, chassis space is freed up for the batteries to be set across the full width of the vehicle, creating a low centre of gravity and improved driving dynamics.

Power from the motors is driven through a special transmission with two forward and two reverse gears, allowing the truck to cruise at up to 89 km/h (55 mph).

The body features a full Solomon Slipstream system incorporating tapered bulkhead, 3D roof deflector and sloping Kamm tail. Refrigeration is controlled by a Carrier TRS Syberia overcab chiller unit and Carrier Datacold temperature monitoring system.

At the rear there’s a 1,500 kg Dhollandia column tail lift, as well as a reversing camera which is integrated with the truck’s Multimedia Cockpit display screens, so no extra in-cab hardware is required. Other standard equipment includes MirrorCam, Active Brake Assist 5, and an Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System.

The eActros is also available as a 6×2 chassis, with 27tonne GVW and a body-and-payload allowance of 16.6tonnes, and as an eActros 400 with four batteries allowing up to 400km (249miles) of range. Deliveries of the first vehicles to UK customers are now underway.