Benz Urban eTruck customer trial to kick off soon

Twenty European customers from disposal, foodstuffs and logistics sectors will test the new vehicle

 

Mercedes-Benz Trucks is planning to begin the customer trial of its small series heavy-duty eTruck for short-radius distribution soon.

Part of Daimler Trucks’ electric vehicle initiative, the trial involves handing over the new trucks to selected customers from different industry sectors throughout Europe.

Mercedes-Benz Trucks global head Stefan Buchner says the plan follows a successful premiere of the truck at the International Commercial Vehicle Show  in September last year.

“We are currently talking to around 20 potential customers from the disposal, foodstuffs and logistics sector,” Mercedes-Benz Trucks global head Stefan Buchner says.

“With the small series we are now rapidly taking the next step towards a series product.

“By 2020 we want to be on the market with the series generation.”

“Zero emissions, quiet as a whisper and with a payload of 12.8 t, the Urban eTruck offers an impressive economical and environmentally friendly concept.

“The vehicle will initially go in a low two-figure number of units to customers in Germany – and later in Europe too. “

The aim of the trial is to use “actual application scenarios and requirement profiles together with the customer to further optimise the vehicle concept and the system configurations of the electric truck.

“The tests will include use in shift operation, charging times plus battery and range management.”

Daimler says that in order to be able to depict the various application possibilities the 18- and 25-tonne models will be equipped with a refrigerated body, as a dry box body and as a platform vehicle.

The vehicles will be handed over to the customers to use for a period of twelve months and supported by Mercedes-Benz Trucks road testing department.

The company will record the areas of application during the trial to gather data for comparison.

Buchner says the Urban eTruck is part of Daimler’s electric truck initiative, which will also see 150 light-duty Fuso eCanter trucks handed over to selected customers in Europe, Japan and the United States.

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