Mercedes-Benz previews an electric semi-truck

Mercedes-Benz Trucks will be bringing a concept vehicle named the eActros LongHaul at the commercial transports expo in Hannover, Germany in September. According to the company, the semi is already running its first real-world tests and is rated for 40 metric tons (88,000 lbs) of cargo.

Production is set to begin in a few years’ time, and in the meantime, these sketches and teasers are going to suffice. The images show a semi-truck with a low-drag cab, unusually slim headlights and an impressive glass dome.

There is also another, half-trailer version of the eActros, but it remains to be seen whether it debuts in September along with the semi or not.

The company promises 1MW charging power support and LiFePo4 batteries chargeable from 20 to 80 percent within 30 minutes.

According to the manufacturer, the truck will be rated for 500 kilometers (310 miles) of range. While it may seem not much, the company claims that most carriers will be fine with this characteristic. Furthermore, semi drivers in Europe are obligated to make a 45-minute stop after every four and a half hours of driving. Stopping at a charging station should eliminate any range anxiety. In terms of other drivetrain parameters, the eActros LongHaul is expected to be comparable with modern ICE semis.

Mercedes-Benz Trucks plans to supply the first pre-production samples of the truck to its major partners so that they can test them in real-world conditions.