Final test phase before start of series production: Mercedes-Benz eEconic proves itself in customer trials in the Rhine-Main region

•  Hand-over of the battery-electric eEconic to Frankfurter Entsorgungs- und Service GmbH (FES)
• Application in municipal door-to-door waste collection in the Rhine-Main region
• Trade show premiere of eEconic on May 30 at IFAT 2022 in Munich
• Start of series production planned for summer of this year at the Wörth plant
• Dr Ralf Forcher, Head of Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks: “After having successfully completed the internal test series, we are now initiating the final test phase with practical testing at customer sites before the upcoming start of series production. We are delighted that FES is relying on our eEconic.”
• Rosemarie Heilig, Department Head in Frankfurt and Chairman of the Supervisory Board at FES: “As a partner of the city, FES is switching to environmentally friendly waste disposal. This makes Frankfurt one of the first cities in Germany to consistently move towards e-mobility and the reduction of harmful emissions of its commercial vehicles.“
• Dirk Remmert, Managing Director of FES: “We believe the eEconic is an important component of our strategy, particularly as a waste collection vehicle – because it can perform its tasks silently and locally carbon-neutral.”

Launch of the final test phase of the Mercedes-Benz eEconic before the start of series production: With immediate effect, FES Frankfurter Entsorgungs- und Service GmbH is using the near-series e-truck from Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks for municipal waste collection in Frankfurt am Main. The vehicle was officially handed over to Dirk Remmert, Technical Managing Director of FES, by Dr Ralf Forcher, Head of Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks, during a press conference at the FES headquarters in Frankfurt-Bornheim. The fully battery-electric eEconic will celebrate its trade show premiere on 30 May at IFAT – the world’s leading trade show for water, wastewater, waste and raw materials management – in Munich. The start of series production at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth is planned for summer this year.

Dr Ralf Forcher, Head of Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks: “After having successfully completed the internal test series, we are now initiating the final test phase with practical testing at customer sites before the upcoming start of series production. We are delighted that FES is relying on our eEconic and is testing it intensively in municipal applications.”

Rosemarie Heilig, Department Head in Frankfurt and Chairman of the Supervisory Board at FES: “We can no longer ignore climate change, noise and fine dust pollution. As a city, we have to be a role model and also rely on low-emission vehicles for our urban commercial vehicles. FES, as a partner of the city, is switching to environmentally friendly waste disposal. This makes Frankfurt one of the first cities in Germany to consistently move towards e-mobility and the reduction of harmful emissions of its commercial vehicles.“

Dirk Remmert, Managing Director of FES: “As a municipal waste disposal company, we contribute to the common good of our city and its sustainable development. We believe that the eEconic is an important component of our strategy, especially for waste collection vehicle applications – because it can perform its tasks silently and locally carbon-neutral.”

Locally carbon-neutral and silent: The eEconic for sustainable, municipal use

The eEconic has a permissible gross weight of 27 tons. As is the case with the eActros for distribution haulage, the technological heart of the eEconic is the drive unit: An electric axle with two integrated electric motors and a two-speed transmission. The batteries of the eEconic series-production model consist of three battery packs, each with an installed capacity of 112 kWh[1] and a usable capacity of around 97 kWh.[2] Both liquid-cooled motors generate a continuous output of 330 kW as well as a peak output of 400 kW.

The eEconic is characterized by its silent driving style and its pleasant, calm driving experience. The eEconic scores with its lower noise emissions, especially in urban operation in the early hours of the morning. In addition, when driving with foresight, electrical energy can be recovered through recuperation — a major advantage, especially in the stop-and-go operation of refuse collection. At the end of the daily routes, the batteries of the electric truck can be recharged with up to 160 kW at customers’ depots. In addition, the eEconic’s vehicle architecture benefits from Daimler Trucks’ global platform strategy: The drivetrain of the low-floor truck is based on the Mercedes-Benz eActros, which has been in series production at the Wörth plant since October 2021.

The advantages of the eEconic ensure safety, overview and comfort

Proven features of the conventional Econic can also be found in the eEconic. For example, the low panoramic windscreen of the “DirectVision cab” with its low seat position provides the driver with direct visual contact with other road users and enables an extremely good overview of the road traffic. In addition, the coated and heated Thermocontrol windscreen prevents the windscreen from weather-related fogging, increasing the clear view of the traffic area. The windscreen also reduces heating of the interior caused by sunlight.

Another ergonomic advantage is the even cab floor, which makes it easier to get through the cab; this is particularly advantageous if the driver wants to get out through the folding door on the front passenger side where there is no traffic. The modern and intuitive Multimedia Cockpit is also a significant upgrade compared with the conventional Econic. In addition, the eEconic is equipped as standard with the turning assistant S1R and the fifth-generation Active Brake Assist emergency brake assistant.

All-electric rear loader from FAUN

The eEconic at FES is equipped with an all-electric rear loader from FAUN. The FAUN VARIOPRESS has a volume capacity of 22 cubic meters. VARIOPRESS offers a very high level of functionality, can be used universally and represents an innovative solution for the disposal of various reusable and waste materials.

Ultimate objective: Carbon-neutral road transportation by 2050

Daimler Truck has set itself the goal of offering only new vehicles that are carbon-neutral in driving operation (“tank-to-wheel”) in Europe, Japan and North America by 2039. Both battery-electric models, the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro and Mercedes-Benz eActros, have been rolling off the production line in series production since 2018 and 2021 respectively. The Mercedes-Benz eEconic, FUSO eCanter and Freightliner eCascadia will follow this year and other locally carbon-neutral vehicles are already in the planning stage. Our ultimate objective is carbon-neutral road transportation by 2050.

 Contact:

Akim Enomoto, +49 (0) 176 30995099, akim.enomoto@daimlertruck.com   

Peter Smodej, +49 (0) 176 30936446, peter.smodej@daimlertruck.com 

Ulrike Burkhart, +49 (0) 160 8613757, ulrike.burkhart@daimlertruck.com

Further information on Daimler Truck are available at:

www.media.daimlertruck.com and www.daimlertruck.com

Forward-looking statements:

This document contains forward-looking statements that reflect our current views about future events. The words “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” ”can,” “could,” “plan,” “project,” “should” and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to many risks and uncertainties, including an adverse development of global economic conditions, in particular a decline of demand in our most important markets; a deterioration of our refinancing possibilities on the credit and financial markets; events of force majeure including natural disasters, pandemics, acts of terrorism, political unrest, armed conflicts, industrial accidents and their effects on our sales, purchasing, production or financial services activities; changes in currency exchange rates, customs and foreign trade provisions; a shift in consumer preferences towards smaller, lower-margin vehicles; a possible lack of acceptance of our products or services which limits our ability to achieve prices and adequately utilize our production capacities; price increases for fuel or raw materials; disruption of production due to shortages of materials, labor strikes or supplier insolvencies; a decline in resale prices of used vehicles; the effective implementation of cost-reduction and efficiency-optimization measures; the business outlook for companies in which we hold a significant equity interest; the successful implementation of strategic cooperations and joint ventures; changes in laws, regulations and government policies, particularly those relating to vehicle emissions, fuel economy and safety; the resolution of pending government investigations or of investigations requested by governments and the conclusion of pending or threatened future legal proceedings; and other risks and uncertainties, some of which are described under the heading “Risk and Opportunity Report” in this Annual Report. If any of these risks and uncertainties materializes or if the assumptions underlying any of our forward-looking statements prove to be incorrect, the actual results may be materially different from those we express or imply by such statements. We do not intend or assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements since they are based solely on the circumstances at the date of publication.

[1] Nominal capacity of new battery, based on internally defined boundary conditions, may vary depending on use case and ambient conditions.

[2] Energy available for regular truck operation with new batteries. Based on internally defined boundary conditions, may vary depending on use case and ambient conditions.