Mercedes-Benz uses “reworked” EV batteries for electric trucks

Mercedes-Benz Trucks has made an important addition to its spare parts portfolio in Germany, introducing a new reworked high-voltage CB400 battery for use in the first-generation Mercedes-Benz eActros 300/400 and the Mercedes-Benz eEconic.

Developed at the Mercedes-Benz Mannheim plant in Germany, reworking CB400 batteries started out as a student-led project and has since evolved into an initiative that now serves as the blueprint for the refurbishment of high-voltage batteries in the commercial vehicle sector.

Used CB400 batteries from customer vehicles were already collected at the Mannheim and are now disassembled, cleaned, and refurbished to the latest series standard. Each battery meets Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ series standards for functionality and safety and has been equipped with latest software and undergo rigorous functional and leak tests.

The resulting “Genuine Reworked Batteries” are therefore now available to customers for the first-generation Mercedes-Benz eActros 300/400 as well as the Mercedes-Benz eEconic.

Mercedes-Benz Trucks is billing this development as a “resource-efficient and economically attractive alternative to brand-new replacement batteries” that extends the lifecycle of batteries, helps to conserve natural resources, and significantly reduce the carbon footprint for battery and truck.

Importantly, each battery is also covered by Mercedes-Benz Trucks parts warranty.

“With the CB400 reworked concept, we offer our customers a cost-efficient and sustainable solution that reuses high-quality components, thereby reducing resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions — all while maintaining consistently high quality,” said Christian Vrbek, team leader for remanufacturing zero emission vehicles in aftersales at Daimler Truck.

Daimler Truck, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz Trucks, is hoping that this latest innovation in reusing and recycling key automotive components will serve as a central pillar of its evolving circular economy.

Specifically, Daimler Truck is aiming to operate its truck and bus manufacturing in line with the principles of the circular economy, reducing the environmental impact of its product through the use of closed material loops.