Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany/Santiago, Chile – Mercedes-Benz Trucks has delivered the first battery-electric long-haul trucks in Chile. The first Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 went to Empresas Cavalieri. The transport company will operate the truck along the Santiago–Viña del Mar route in the Valparaíso region for beverage transportation. Six more eActros 600 units for customers in Chile will be delivered in the coming weeks.

Compañía de Cervecerías Unidas (CCU), one of the largest beverage producers in Chile and South America and a client of Cavalieri, is continuously advancing the electrification of its transportation operations. The eActros 600 units used by Cavalieri for freight transport mark another milestone in the company’s sustainability initiative. With a range of 500 km^[1] per battery charge, the trucks enable the customer to operate efficient transport routes without requiring charging stops outside the depot.

Electric mobility in Chile

The battery-electric eActros 600 celebrated its market launch in Chile last year. With a total area exceeding 750,000 km² and a north-south span of about 4,200 km, Chile is the first South American market for the eActros 600. Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ sales partner Kaufmann S.A., having previously offered the first-generation eActros 300/400, now provides its customers with a broad portfolio of battery-electric transport solutions with the eActros 600 and variants from the second model generation. Customers benefit from a comprehensive e-mobility ecosystem that includes nationwide mobility guarantees, technical consulting, after-sales support, driver training, and advice on charging infrastructure.

Chile is one of the most severely affected regions by climate change and has set ambitious climate protection goals and programs. The country aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. At the same time, it is considered one of the most promising markets for renewable energy worldwide. Solar and wind power already account for a large share of the country’s energy supply today.

About the eActros 600

Mercedes-Benz Trucks celebrated the series launch of the eActros 600 at the end of November 2024 the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth. Deliveries to customers began in December 2024. The high battery capacity of over 600 kilowatt hours - hence the model designation 600 – and a new, particularly efficient electric drive axle developed in-house enable the eActros 600 to achieve a range of 500 kilometers^[1] without intermediate charging. This range is accomplished under very realistic and practical conditions with a gross combination mass of 40 tons, which can also be significantly exceeded depending on the driving style and the route. The eActros 600 will even be able to cover well over 1,000 kilometers per day. Intermediate charging during statutory driver breaks makes this possible, provided that charging options are available. 

The eActros 600 has three battery packs, each with 207 kWh^[2]. These offer an installed total capacity of 621 kWh. The batteries are based on lithium iron phosphate cell technology (LFP) and are characterized by a long service life. The development engineers at Mercedes-Benz Trucks designed the eActros 600 to meet the same requirements for the durability of vehicles and components as a comparable conventional heavy-duty long-haul Actros. This means up to 1.2 million kilometers in ten years of operation. After this period of use, the battery state of health should still be above 80 percent. In contrast to other battery cell technologies, more than 95 percent of the installed capacity can also be used with LFP technology. This facilitates a higher range with the same installed battery capacity. The vehicle is technically designed for a gross combination mass of up to 44 tons. With a standard semitrailer, the eActros 600 has a payload of around 22 tons in the EU. There might be cases in which national law allows higher payloads. 
 
To meet even more customer requirements, Mercedes-Benz Trucks recently expanded its battery-electric truck portfolio with additional variants based on the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600. Depending on their requirements in terms of range, payload, and comfort, customers will be able to choose between two cab variants, two or three battery packs, numerous wheelbases, and new axle configurations. The second model generation of the eActros thus offers over 40 variants of the base vehicle. The new vehicle versions feature the key characteristics of the eActros 600, such as LFP battery technology and the specially developed eAxle.

_{[1] The range was determined internally under specific test conditions, after preconditioning with a 4x2 tractor unit with a 40 tons total towing weight at 20°C outside temperature in long-haul operation and may deviate from the values determined in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/2400.
[2] Nominal capacity of a new battery, based on internally defined boundary conditions. This may vary depending on the application and ambient conditions.}