Electric Trucks News

The Mercedes-Benz eActros 600, the company's flagship battery-electric long-haul truck, is rapidly moving from demonstration to large-scale fleet integration across Europe. The latest news confirms significant customer adoption and an expanded model portfolio designed to meet a wider array of logistics needs.

1. Major Fleet Adoption and Deliveries
Since series production began at the Wörth am Rhein plant at the end of 2024, the eActros 600 has entered daily operation in over 15 European countries. Key customers are placing substantial orders, demonstrating confidence in the long-haul capability of the electric truck:

Amazon's Largest Order: Amazon placed its largest-ever order for electric heavy goods vehicles, selecting more than 200 units of the eActros 600 for deployment in its middle-mile networks in the UK and Germany, with the first vehicles entering service in 2025.

Holcim's 1,000-Unit Agreement: Swiss building materials giant Holcim signed a letter of intent to deploy a total of 1,000 eActros 600 units across its European fleet. This is set to be the largest single order for the model to date, with the trucks primarily used with silo trailers for demanding building material transport.

Logistics Deployment: Other major logistics firms, including Simon Loos (75 units ordered) and DHL Group (30 units with leasing partner hylane), are actively incorporating the eActros 600 into their long-distance and distribution operations.

2. Portfolio Expansion: The eActros 400
To address varying requirements for payload and range, Mercedes-Benz Trucks expanded its second-generation eActros lineup:

Introduction of the eActros 400: Orders opened in October 2025 for the new eActros 400. This variant uses two battery packs (instead of the eActros 600's three), resulting in a shorter range but a significantly higher payload capacity—an advantage for distribution routes with frequent stops.

Modular Options: Both the eActros 400 and eActros 600 are now available with over 40 combination options for the base vehicle, including various wheelbase and cab configurations (the conventional L-cab or the aerodynamic ProCabin).

3. Charging and Technology Milestones
The eActros 600, which features three LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery packs with a total capacity of 621 kWh (allowing a 500 km range without intermediate charging), is built for the future of charging:

Current Charging: It currently charges via standard CCS2 connections at up to 400 kW.

Megawatt Charging (MCS) Readiness: The long-haul-focused eActros 600 with the ProCabin is designed to support Megawatt Charging (MCS) in the future, which will reduce the 20% to 80% charge time to approximately 30 minutes once the infrastructure and standardization are fully established.

The widespread deployment and successful pilot tests confirm the eActros 600 is poised to become a dominant force in the decarbonization of European heavy-duty road freight.

Megawatt Charging System (MCS) Standardization: The proliferation of MCS-enabled stations is accelerating. Scania announced that its new electric truck platform will be compatible with MCS at 750 kW for vehicles ordered in early 2026, enabling a full charge in approximately 90 minutes (for a 560 kWh battery).

• ⚡ Australian Electric Truck Sets New Range Benchmark

• SYDNEY, Australia – Zero-emissions trucking company New Energy Transport (NET), in partnership with Multiquip, has completed what is being hailed as Australia's longest-distance single-charge heavy-vehicle delivery.

• The milestone journey involved a Windrose electric prime mover hauling a total weight of 36 tonnes over a 480-kilometre round trip between Picton (south of Sydney) and Beresfield (near Newcastle)—all without needing to recharge.

• Faster and More Productive

• The demonstration proved that electric heavy trucks can now outperform diesel counterparts in productivity. The electric truck completed the journey 40 minutes faster than a diesel equivalent, a time-saving attributed to its superior power delivery, which allowed it to maintain higher speeds on uphill gradients.

• "This is a new kind of trucking company," said NET Co-CEO Daniel Bleakley, emphasizing the service's ability to offer zero-emission road freight that is competitive with diesel on both cost and productivity.

• The trial is part of a larger plan by NET to establish Australia's largest heavy electric trucking depot near Wilton, southwest of Sydney, by mid-2026.

The 2025 Chevrolet BrightDrop Zevo 600 AWD is a game-changer for last-mile delivery, blending GM’s Ultium battery tech with practical design. Priced at ~$68,700 ($47,925 after cash offers), it offers a 272-mile GM-estimated range (179 miles with Standard Range battery), 300 hp, 390 lb-ft of torque, and a massive 614.7 cu. ft. cargo capacity with a 3,180-lb payload. Its AWD dual-motor setup ensures confident handling, while the 120 kW DC fast charging adds 160 miles in an hour. The cabin is driver-focused with a 11.3-inch touchscreen, heated seats, and over 20 safety features like intersection collision avoidance. Pros: Impressive range, spacious cargo, smooth one-pedal driving, robust safety tech.
Cons: High starting price, modest 120 kW charging speed, spartan interior. The Zevo 600 excels for fleets (FedEx, Walmart) with its quiet ride and efficiency, though its price and charging speed lag behind some rivals like the Mercedes eSprinter. Ideal for urban deliveries, it’s a strong contender in the electric van space