Mercedes-Benz Unveils Electric Semi With 310-Mile Range

New EVs are hitting the streets at a rapid clip, but a new battleground in the electric vehicle competition has emerged. Commercial trucks are ripe for electrification, and several companies have thrown their hats into the ring, including Daimler Trucks. Mercedes-Benz Trucks brandalready has electric commercial modelsin production and recently announced a new long-range variant that will come in a couple of years.

The eActros LongHaul will offer a range of around 310 miles and is set to enter serial production in 2024. Mercedes is already testing the 40-ton truck and says its engineers will begin tests on public roads later this year. Parent company Daimler Trucks wants to be a carbon-neutral truck company in Europe, Japan, and North America by 2039.

Commercial vehicles, such as semis and even delivery vehicles like theFord E-Transit, tend to work as EVs, as their shorter, defined routes mean range is less important. The eActros LongHaul improves range, but 310 miles is still short of what a diesel semi can deliver.

Two additional eActros variants and a new Econic intended for municipal buyers are on their way as early as July. The Econic is a smaller commercial truck with special fittings for firefighters, short-haul deliveries, waste disposal, construction sites, and more.

Mercedes-Benzbegan producing the first eActros late last yearat its plant in Worth. The truck rides on Daimler's eArchitecture and comes with two electric motors. Various battery configurations are available, reaching a range of up to 249 miles with the maximum 420-kWh battery capacity.