Mercedes eEconic: for silent waste collection

Daimler Truck will deliver the first units within the year.

Daimler Truck has just started production of its eEconic, an electric truck designed for waste collection. The vehicle is assembled in Germany, at the Wörth plant. This site already handled the production of the eActros, an all-electric heavy-duty vehicle.

Some companies have already expressed interest in the Mercedes eEconic. Daimler Truck will begin deliveries later this year. The first unit will go to Urbaser A/S, a Danish company specializing in waste management.

Before entering production, the Mercedes eEconic underwent numerous tests. Some of these were conducted directly with Daimler Truck’s customers.

“The feedback from our customers has shown: cities and municipalities want CO2-neutral vehicles for their fleets”, commented Dr. Ralf Forcher, head of Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks, during this event. “Large cities, in particular, need quiet, clean, and safe logistics and waste disposal solutions”.

The Mercedes eEconic is based on a vehicle that previously only had combustion engine versions. It features 3 lithium-ion battery packs, with a total capacity of 336 kWh. It is credited with a maximum range of about 150 km. Capable of handling up to 160 kW of charge current, it can recharge from 20 to 80% in approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Mercedes eEconic: a New Step Towards Carbon Neutrality

Daimler Truck has set the goal of only marketing CO2-neutral vehicles starting in 2039, in European, North American, and Japanese markets. To achieve this goal, the German manufacturer is also working on hydrogen trucks. This solution presents many supply challenges but offers significantly greater range than battery-electric vehicles. It is therefore favored for vehicles expected to travel longer distances.

Read also: Volvo Trucks tests a new hydrogen truck