Mercedes-Benz wants to get in on the electric truck game, and the German automaker has unveiled a camouflaged version of the Urban eTruck.
This is a fully electric truck that is capable of pulling 26 metric tons for up to 200 kilometers (124 miles) with a single battery charge. It is just a concept for now, but Daimler, the company that owns Mercedes-Benz and smart, says it could go on sale by the start of the next decade.
The idea behind an electric truck with such a small range, when compared to its diesel counterparts, is to provide an eco-friendly alternative for heavyweight shipping in urban areas. A truck like this would be perfect for jobs in city centers that have introduced zero-emission zones, and it can haul just as much as a conventional vehicle if it is needed.
Paris and London are the first cities mentioned by Daimler representatives as being interested in banning internal combustion engines in their centers. Trucks might be exempted from the rule for longer than any automobile, but Daimler still has to develop solutions for customers that will require a zero-emission vehicle capable of carrying cargo on a large scale, but for smaller distances.
The Urban eTruck from Mercedes-Benz features three axles, and its motors are introduced adjacently to the wheel hubs. The battery pack consists of three lithium-ion modules, and Mercedes-Benz says the range is sufficient for a typical daily delivery tour. Each package would reach its recipient without any direct emissions, providing a sustainable alternative to diesel trucks.
Mercedes-Benz is not rushing this vehicle to market, as there is no incentive for selling it in the coming years. Along with this electric truck, Mercedes-Benz’s truck division has also announced it is celebrating two years of small-scale testing of the Fuso Canter E-Cell, a light distribution truck that uses hydrogen fuel cells, and is currently employed by some of its customers in the form of real-world trials.
The idea behind an electric truck with such a small range, when compared to its diesel counterparts, is to provide an eco-friendly alternative for heavyweight shipping in urban areas. A truck like this would be perfect for jobs in city centers that have introduced zero-emission zones, and it can haul just as much as a conventional vehicle if it is needed.
Paris and London are the first cities mentioned by Daimler representatives as being interested in banning internal combustion engines in their centers. Trucks might be exempted from the rule for longer than any automobile, but Daimler still has to develop solutions for customers that will require a zero-emission vehicle capable of carrying cargo on a large scale, but for smaller distances.
The Urban eTruck from Mercedes-Benz features three axles, and its motors are introduced adjacently to the wheel hubs. The battery pack consists of three lithium-ion modules, and Mercedes-Benz says the range is sufficient for a typical daily delivery tour. Each package would reach its recipient without any direct emissions, providing a sustainable alternative to diesel trucks.
Mercedes-Benz is not rushing this vehicle to market, as there is no incentive for selling it in the coming years. Along with this electric truck, Mercedes-Benz’s truck division has also announced it is celebrating two years of small-scale testing of the Fuso Canter E-Cell, a light distribution truck that uses hydrogen fuel cells, and is currently employed by some of its customers in the form of real-world trials.