Mercedes to use electric trucks only in its own supply chain

Mercedes-Benz Trucks, one of Daimler Truck’s biggest brands, has set a goal of electrifying all deliveries to its largest truck manufacturing plant in Wörth, Germany, by the end of 2026.

The Wörth truck assembly plant was founded by Mercedes-Benz Truck in 1963 and is currently home to series production of the company’s eActros electric tractor truck.

Starting next year, Mercedes-Benz Trucks, together with its logistics service providers and freight forwarders, will begin using electric trucks for its daily deliveries.

The pilot phase of the project will use the Mercedes-Benz eActros 300 tractors. Several freight forwarders have stepped forward to participate in the pilot phase, which is expected to get underway next year.

By 2026, when 100% electrification of delivery traffic to Wörth is targeted, the eActros LongHaul and other models are expected to be in use as well.

“We want to drive the transformation of our industry forward quickly, which is why we are active at all levels of electrification,” said Karin Rådström, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Trucks.

“Therefore, we are going beyond vehicle development, manufacturing, and providing related services. We are working intensively on the electrification of our own direct supply chains.

“There is great potential here, as well as great interest among our partners, whom we are strongly supporting on this path.”

Mercedes-Benz Trucks began series production of the eActros 300 tractors in late-2021 and is gearing up to begin production of the eActros LongHaul, which it debuted in September, and which is due for series production in 2024.

Approximately 50 charging columns, including megawatt charging stations, are planned to be installed at key points for delivery traffic in the immediate vicinity of production at the Wörth assembly plant.

Further, it is expected that the time used to unload the electric trucks will eventually be used to recharge the vehicle’s battery, though parent company Daimler Truck don’t appear to be expecting this to be happening during the pilot phase.