![Mercedes-Benz_eActros_600_(1)[1]](https://d2cohhpa0jt4tw.cloudfront.net/Pictures/274x183/8/1/8/17818_mercedesbenz_eactros_600_11_556244.jpg)
Dachser is running a Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 on a demanding 590km-a-day Alpine route between Bolzano and Munich, but says the electric truck still costs more to operate than diesel, even with toll advantages in Austria and Germany.
The vehicle, which has been operating since 1 April, is operated by a transport partner for Dachser and crosses one of Europe’s busiest Alpine freight corridors without relying on public charging during the journey. It starts its tour fully charged at the Dachser & Fercam branch in Bolzano, South Tyrol, then travels roughly 300km to Munich, where it charges at Dachser’s site before returning to Italy.
The truck uses three 180kW fast chargers at the Munich branch. It usually arrives at around 10 pm with about 40% battery remaining; a two-hour session brings it to around 70% before it leaves again for Bolzano between 2.30 am and 3 am.
The eActros 600 is fitted with three lithium iron phosphate battery packs with a combined capacity of 621kWh, giving a manufacturer-rated range of around 500km. Maximum permitted weight differs by country: up to 42 tonnes in Germany and Austria, and up to 44 tonnes in Italy. Payload is 18.5 tonnes in total, or 9.25 tonnes per swap body.
The Munich–Bolzano service forms part of Dachser’s platform freight operation between Bavaria and South Tyrol, where freight is consolidated before the truck departs in the early morning, enabling a 24-hour groupage service between the two regions. The route is a busy one for Dachser, which runs around 70 truck journeys a day between northern Italy and southern Germany using 18 swap-body vehicles from its Munich logistics centre alone.
The Alpine route required detailed preparation, including simulations of topography and charging needs using the manufacturer’s tools, while descent sections allow energy recovery through recuperation.
“The route has been running completely smoothly from day one,” said Tobias Eß, outbound manager for Western Europe Exports at Dachser Munich.
Dachser has not disclosed electricity consumption or charging costs, but said the electric operation currently remains more expensive than diesel. Lower road charges are therefore an important part of the business case: Austria applies reduced tolls to electric trucks, and Germany has exempted zero-emission trucks from tolls until 2031. These measures help close the gap but do not eliminate it.
Dachser has been electrifying other Alpine routes too, launching a Regensdorf–Milan service in May and converting the Gersthofen–Sterzing leg of its Gersthofen–Verona route. Rail is also part of the plan, with a new Augsburg-Gersthofen terminal due in early 2027.
