![Mercedes-Benz_eActros_600_(1)[1]](https://d2cohhpa0jt4tw.cloudfront.net/Pictures/274x183/8/1/8/17818_mercedesbenz_eactros_600_11_556244.jpg)
A German logistics firm is testing electric long-haul lorries on a 1,000-kilometre daily cross-country route, charging at its own depot and en route at public facilities.
Since May, Logistik Schmitt has been operating two battery-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 lorries on a 1,000-kilometre daily loop between Daimler Buses in Mannheim and a supplier near Leipzig, with charging at the Daimler depot and a public Milence charging site at Hermsdorfer Kreuz.
The route forms part of operational testing ahead of the rollout of 23 series-production eActros 600 units to Logistik Schmitt’s fleet. The company recently took delivery of the first five vehicles at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth. To support the deployment, Logistik Schmitt has installed its own depot charging infrastructure.
Based in Bietigheim, Logistik Schmitt has collaborated with Mercedes-Benz Trucks on electric vehicle trials since 2019. The company previously trialled an eActros 300 prototype on a 168-kilometre shuttle route between Ötigheim and Daimler’s Gaggenau plant. Since 2023, six eActros 300 tractor units have been in use for internal logistics at Daimler Truck facilities.
The eActros 600 is designed for long-distance freight and is equipped with three lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery packs, each rated at 207 kWh, for a total installed battery capacity of 621 kWh. Mercedes-Benz Trucks reports a range of up to 500 kilometres without intermediate charging under typical conditions, with daily distances exceeding 1,000 kilometres possible when recharged during statutory driver breaks, assuming suitable infrastructure is in place.
The vehicle supports a gross combination weight of up to 44 tonnes and offers a payload of around 22 tonnes with a standard semi-trailer. According to the manufacturer, the eActros 600 has been designed to match the durability of comparable diesel lorries, with a target lifespan of 1.2 million kilometres over ten years. Battery state of health is expected to remain above 80% at the end of this period, based on internal test data.
Ronald Ott, head of sales at Mercedes-Benz Trucks and FUSO Germany, said: “Logistik Schmitt has been a key partner in testing our battery-electric trucks since 2019—from the first eActros 300 prototype to our current flagship for long-haul transport.”
MD Rainer Schmitt added: “We are excited to continue our long-standing collaboration with Mercedes-Benz Trucks and to integrate the first series-production eActros 600 units into our fleet.”
