Electric trucks, DHL tests new Mercedes eActros semitrailer

DHL Freight has put a Mercedes-Benz eActros 300 Tractor to the test over several days in practice. The battery-electric truck transported from the DHL Freight Terminal in Hagen near Dortmund an average of 12 tons of production material to the Mercedes-Benz plant in Kassel, some 175 kilometers away – without having to stop for charging.

The electric truck covered 350 kilometers per day. The eActros 300 Tractor is compatible with all common European semitrailers, taking into account the maximum permitted total tractor/trailer combination length. The electric semitrailer tractor is based on the same technology as the eActros 300/400, Sustainable Truck of the Year 2023 in the Distribution category.

As a regional freight forwarder, DHL Freight is responsible for the transportation of production materials from suppliers in North Rhine-Westphalia and partly from the Benelux countries to the Mercedes-Benz Trucks plants. The production material is initially collected from suppliers, consolidated at DHL Freight Terminals such as in Hagen and then transported to the plants.

Mercedes-Benz pushes on electric trucks

“The Mercedes-Benz plant in Kassel is the center of competence for electric drive systems at Daimler Truck. It is therefore only logical that we are now also working intensively on the electrification of delivery transportation to our plant. We are delighted that DHL was on board as an important logistics partner for the tests”, commented Frank H. Lehmann, Plant Manager Mercedes-Benz plant Kassel.

Uwe Brinks, CEO DHL Freight, added: “As one of the world’s leading logistics companies, switching to CO2-neutral vehicles is an essential component of our sustainability strategy toward emission-free logistics. With the eActros 300 Tractor, we have now been able to successfully test its applicability in practice.”