Mercedes-Benz Trucks has delivered 12 battery-electric trucks to its logistics providers, the first of 20 eActros 300s for use in inbound logistics. The first 12 trucks will be used for just-in-time delivery of parts to the Wörth plant in Germany from the first quarter of 2024 and together they will make around 50 journeys a day.
The 20 trucks are being delivered to 17 of Mercedes-Benz Truck’s logistics providers (see boxout).
In support of the use of the e-trucks Mercedes-Benz Trucks is developing a charging infrastructure at the Wörth site. Earlier this year it installed a pilot charging station and will now install another five in various delivery areas in the plant, as well as two charging stations in the truck parking lot in front of the plant. That work is expected to be complete by the end of the year.
The company also said that around 30 charging stations, including megawatt charging stations for high-performance battery charging, will be installed at key points for delivery traffic in the immediate vicinity of production at the Wörth plant. It also said that in future the trucks will be charged when cargo is being unloaded to avoid downtime and allow the truck to get back on route immediately after the delivery of parts.
The eActros 300, which has been assembled at the Wörth plant since 2021, is powered by three battery packs, each with an installed capacity of 112 kWh. The eActros 300 has a range of up to 330km without intermediate charging. The eActros 400 has four battery packs and a range of up to 400km.
Mercedes-Benz Trucks is also looking at rebundling and optimising delivery flows in the transport network in a new consolidation centre near the Wörth plant.
The truckmaker said the eActros 300 tractor unit is also available – initially as a pilot project for selected customers in plant logistics – as a lowliner version, which is particularly suitable for use with megatrailers and in automotive logistics.
“Electric trucks can already cover the majority of delivery routes over short and medium distances,” said Karin Rådström, CEO Mercedes-Benz Trucks. “We want to leave the smallest possible carbon footprint across the entire value chain. This also includes the topic of inbound logistics at our Wörth plant. We are happy that many of our logistics partners are now switching to the all-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros and driving the transformation of the industry forward with us.”
Logistics providers using the eActros 300 for inbound deliveries
- Alfred Schuon (Haiterbach)
- DHL Freight (Bonn)
- Edgar Rothermel Internationale Spedition (Östringen)
- fachspedition karl dischinger (Ehrenkirchen)
- Große-Vehne Speditions (Kornwestheim)
- Hans Geis, Bad (Neustadt)
- Hubert Eichenlaub Transporte und Spedition (Herxheim)
- Lakner Spedition + Logistik, Schwäbisch (Gmünd)
- LDB Logistik (Bühl)
- Paul Schockemöhle Logistics Group (Steinfeld)
- Schenker Deutschland (Frankfurt am Main)
- Seifert Logistics (Ulm)
- Spedition Nuss (Wörth am Rhein)
- Toni Hotz Transporte (Offenbach an der Quaich)
- Troha Spedition, Jacques-Michel Tropf (Hagenbach)
- Walter Schmitt (Bietigheim)
- Wiedmann & Winz (Geislingen an der Steige)
Logistics consulting
Mercedes-Benz Trucks has developed the Electrified Logistics Accelerated (ELA) consulting service based on experience gained in the course of project to electrify logistics at the Wörth plant. Consultants from Mercedes-Benz Trucks are now able to support other industrial companies in the electrification of their plant logistics.
The truckmaker said that logistics and charging infrastructure experts from Mercedes-Benz Trucks had been in close contact with the logistics companies participating in the current project.
As well as procurement of the trucks, discussions involved the charging infrastructure at the logistics hubs, involving an analysis of incoming and outgoing routes for supplying the production site and planning the charging points.
“With the project to electrify plant logistics at the Wörth production site, we have done real pioneering work together with our colleagues,” said Andreas Scharff, head of emobility sales and dealer network development at Mercedes-Benz Trucks. “It is now all the more important for us to share this expertise with other industrial companies and thus fuel the transformation to sustainable logistics and make a joint contribution to effective CO2 reduction. With our ELA program, we are therefore deliberately expanding our consulting and service portfolio towards industrial companies.
Federal funding
The project to electrify inbound logistics at Wörth is being funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport, with a total of around €3m invested. That investment comes as part of the directive on the promotion of light and heavy commercial vehicles with alternative drive systems and the associated refuelling and charging infrastructure. The funding guideline is managed by NOW, which coordinates programmes and technologies for emission-free transport on behalf of the German federal government. Applications are approved by the Federal Logistics and Mobility Office.
The latest announcement on the allocation of eActros trucks to Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ logistics providers follows an announcement last month that it had delivered the first of six eActros 300 semitrailer tractors to transport provider Logistik Schmitt. The company has not clarified where this fits in with this new commitment to supply 20 of the vehicles for inbound logistics.
This year Mercedes-Benz Trucks is celebrating 30 years at its largest truck assembly plant in Wörth.
No comments yet