- A pair of Mercedes-Benz Trucks eActros 600 units are set to undertake a 2,400 kilometre journey across Europe, helping to test out the performance of megawatt charging under real world conditions.
- Across the test route, the two electric trucks will undertake charging sessions on both public and private pieces of charging infrastructure.
- The aim of the test is to ensure that MCS charging from multiple charge point providers remains highly compatible with the eActros 600, whilst feeding back the performance of MCS charging across different conditions.
eActros 600 tests out megawatt charging in the real world
Under the test run being carried out by two examples of the Mercedes-Benz Trucks eActros 600, the trucks will each travel approximately 2,400 kilometres, passing through Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, and Sweden. Along the route, the pair will charge up at megawatt charging stations along the route – including both private and publicly accessible infrastructure.
Megawatt charging allows for impressive charging speeds of up to 1,000kW. In the case of the eActros 600, with its total battery capacity of 621kWh, this charging rate allows the truck to be charged from 20% to 80% in only 30 minutes. However, with that faster charging comes an increased need for thermal management. Through this real world testing, Mercedes-Benz Trucks hopes to evaluate the eActros 600’s thermal management systems to ensure that MCS charging speeds can be attained in a variety of different conditions.
Peter Ziegler, Head of E Charging Components at Mercedes-Benz Trucks, commented:
“The key challenges in megawatt charging lie in harmonizing the vehicle with various charging systems. At the same time, the extreme charging currents in MCS charging place high demands on thermal management. The current test run provides an important opportunity to evaluate these aspects under real-world operating conditions.”
Ensuring that MCS-capable electric trucks can achieve the highest charging rates in real world conditions will be crucial for encouraging more truck operators to make the switch. Reduced charging times both maximise vehicle utilisation and reduce delivery times, opening up opportunities for increased revenue.
