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400km Test Drive of the eActros 600

Mercedes was blessed with ideal conditions for PowerTorque’s European Correspondent Will Shiers’ 400km test drive of the eActros 600, the International Truck of the Year.

The temperature was a warm 32°C, and traffic was minimal. What’s more, there were no trucks on the road since it was a Saturday, French regulations mandating that they’re parked-up on weekends. I had special dispensation as I wasn’t operating for hire and reward.

The eActros automatically detected that I was on a French motorway and displayed a 90km/h speed limit sign on the dashboard. But I set the adaptive cruise control to 85km/h, matching the speed of the second truck to ensure a realistic comparison by the end of the route.

At this point, a quick glance at the dial revealed an average consumption of 144kWh/100km (1.44kWh/km), indicating a range of approximately 416km by my calculations. Although this was in line with my expectations, it was frustrating to see the figure gradually improve over time.

During the drive, I encountered some steep inclines that caused the truck to shift from fourth to third gear. The transition was remarkably smooth; if not for the display, I might not have even noticed it. On one particularly steep grade, my speed dropped to 50km/h, which felt much slower than it actually was, likely due to the absence of a roaring combustion engine beneath me.

At that moment, I spotted the ‘boost ready’ indicator on the dashboard, which reminded me of the racing game I used to play on my Commodore 64 in the mid-1980s. Without hesitation, I pressed the button, and the display instantly lit up like an erupting volcano.

The additional 15 per cent power made all the difference, and when I crested the hill, I was back in top gear. Despite the climb, average consumption was now 120kWh/100km (1.2kWh/km), and it was about to improve further. What goes up must come down, and thanks to recuperation, consumption dropped to 112kWh/100km (1.12kWh/km) by the time I reached the bottom of the hill.

During the drive, I encountered several toll booths, offering a chance to test the five-stage electric motor brake. This system provides continuous braking power of 400kW, with a peak of 600kW, and the display shows energy being recaptured and returned to the batteries. Even with some enthusiastic acceleration after each toll, consumption remained steady at 108kWh/100km (1.08kWh/km) for several kilometres.

Four hours into the journey, I realised I hadn’t given MirrorCam a second thought. This might be a controversial statement, but the mirror replacement system felt completely natural to use. The second-generation system, with its smaller camera arms, protrudes less, reducing the risk of being knocked by overhanging trees or toll booths. You can use the passenger door blindspot mirror as a reference: if it fits through a gap, the camera arm will too.

The shorter arms have significantly improved the view on the screen. Previously, the trailer occupied about 30 per cent of the image; now, it’s down to roughly 10 per cent. This change provides less vehicle reference and more visibility of the surroundings. It works well, and when I stopped for my 45-minute break, I found that it also makes reversing easier.

The consumption figure had dropped to 105kWh/100km (1.05kWh/km) by now, and as I set off for the last hour it continued to improve. I had even left the air conditioning on during my break, but that only consumed 4kWh of energy.

Mercedes Charges Ahead

My journey concluded at a new truck charging station on the outskirts of Rouen. This station is operated by Milence, a joint venture among Daimler Truck, TRATON, and the Volvo Group. Milence plans to establish and manage 1,700 public charging points across Europe by 2027, and this is one of the first.

The secure charging site was next to a truck stop, which, unfortunately, was closed on weekends. This left me without any facilities, not even a toilet. If drivers are expected to charge during their mandatory breaks, addressing this lack of amenities will be essential.

All Milence sites currently charge €0.39 per kWh (AUD 0.64 per kWh) and deliver power at a rate of up to 400kW (350kW in this instance).

With no option for a coffee, I settled in the cab and calculated the consumption figures while the truck recharged. Remarkably, the 40-tonne truck had covered 406km with 36 per cent battery remaining, averaging just 98.9kWh/100km (0.989 kWh/km).

The following truck, equipped with the aerodynamic kit, performed even better, with an average consumption of 93.4kWh/100 km (0.934kWh/km). These figures suggest potential ranges of 606km and 642km, respectively.

It’s important to note that these results were achieved under optimal conditions. Even considering adverse weather, traffic congestion, and a heavier foot on the pedal, it’s reasonable to expect that the eActros 600 can comfortably exceed 500km on a single charge.

So, in a way, I did prove Mercedes’ figures to be wrong after all, I just didn’t realise it had grossly underestimated instead of overestimated them, a refreshing change indeed.

 

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400km Test Drive of the eActros 600 appeared first on Power Torque.

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