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The eActros 600, Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ battery-electric long-haul vehicle, recently completed a rigorous winter testing tour across Northern Europe, covering 6,500 kilometers in snowy and icy conditions. The tour, known as the “European Testing Tour Winter 2025,” mirrored parts of a previous summer tour, proving the truck’s practicality and energy efficiency in harsh winter environments. Despite extreme temperatures ranging from -18 to 9 degrees Celsius, the eActros 600 maintained its performance, offering valuable insights into its energy consumption and operational capabilities in cold weather.
Key Highlights
- Completion of a 6,500-kilometer winter tour through Northern Europe, showcasing the eActros 600’s efficiency in cold conditions.
- Insights into energy consumption, revealing that aerodynamics and rolling resistance significantly impact efficiency in winter.
- Demonstration that maintaining comfortable cab temperatures has minimal effect on the truck’s range.
- Observations on public charging infrastructure, noting advanced facilities in Scandinavia but overall limited availability.
- Introduction of the “Mercedes-Benz Trucks Remote 3.0” app, enabling drivers to monitor charging and vehicle status remotely.
The eActros 600’s winter journey tested its mettle across ten countries, facing snow-covered roads and icy challenges. With a gross combination mass of 40 tons, the truck demonstrated its reliability as a sustainable option for long-haul transport, even in tough climates. Christof Weber, Head of Global Testing Mercedes-Benz Trucks, stated, “Not only are we interested in how the energy consumption of the eActros 600 behaves in different winter operations, but above all our customers and drivers. We are very satisfied with the findings of the tour.”
Winter conditions, such as higher air density and winter tires, increased energy consumption by about 25% on a representative route compared to summer. However, heating the cab to a comfortable 21 degrees Celsius only accounted for 5% of this rise, showing that driver comfort doesn’t heavily compromise range. Jochen Gottstein, Manager Testing Energy Consumption & Range at Daimler Truck, explained, “The higher air density at lower temperatures in winter always leads to increased air resistance – and thus to increased consumption.”
Charging infrastructure remains a hurdle, with limited public stations for trucks. While Scandinavia offered some advanced charging parks, such facilities are rare elsewhere, highlighting the need for expanded networks. Meanwhile, the “Mercedes-Benz Trucks Remote 3.0” app proved a game-changer, allowing drivers to track battery status remotely, enhancing efficiency during cold-weather stops.
In conclusion, the eActros 600’s winter tour underscores its potential as a robust, efficient electric truck, paving the way for sustainable long-haul transport in all seasons.
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