• Achim Puchert, CEO Mercedes-Benz Trucks: “Our customers are already operating battery-electric trucks economically in many applications today, including long-haul transport. To further accelerate the transformation, we must strengthen the entire ecosystem, especially by expanding charging infrastructure. This is how we create the conditions for turning individual success stories into a new transport standard.”

Leinfelden-Echterdingen / Hanover – Electric trucks are already regarded by many fleet decision-makers as a more economical alternative to diesel trucks. This is the result of a Daimler Truck survey. More than 40 percent of respondents consider electric trucks the more cost-effective solution from a total cost of ownership (TCO) perspective. According to 16 percent, both technologies are roughly on par. Only around one quarter of respondents see a cost advantage for diesel trucks. Nearly a quarter of the surveyed fleet operators are already using battery-electric trucks today. At the same time, the survey highlights that further market ramp-up strongly depends on the expansion of charging infrastructure. Accordingly, market penetration remains at a low level: in 2025, heavy-duty battery-electric trucks accounted for only two percent of new registrations in Europe. Mercedes-Benz Trucks, the Daimler Truck segment, remains the clear market leader in Europe with around 38 percent of the market for heavy and medium-duty locally CO₂-free trucks in the first half of 2026.

Daimler Truck conducted the non-representative survey among around 200 fleet decision-makers in Germany, France and the United Kingdom, three of Europe’s largest truck markets, focusing on different drive technologies.

Achim Puchert, CEO Mercedes-Benz Trucks: “Our customers are already operating battery-electric trucks economically in many applications today, including long-haul transport. To further accelerate the transformation, we must strengthen the entire ecosystem, especially by expanding charging infrastructure. This is how we create the conditions for turning individual success stories into a new transport standard.”

Electricity Costs Considered Rather Predictable – Charging Infrastructure Significantly Less

Around two-thirds of respondents rate electricity costs as at least as predictable as diesel costs. However, when it comes to the predictability of electricity access, meaning the availability of charging infrastructure, the majority, specifically 61 percent, see electric mobility at a disadvantage.

Dachser: “We Need Economic and Regulatory Framework Conditions as Well as Reliable Expansion of Energy and Charging Infrastructure”

The progress already achieved in the transformation towards road freight transport with alternative drivetrains, as well as the path ahead, was discussed by Achim Puchert and Stefan Hohm, Chief Development Officer and Member of the Executive Board of Dachser, one of Europe’s leading logistics providers, during the first edition of Daimler Truck’s new dialogue format “Customer Pulse” at IAA Transportation 2026. Dachser has been investing in the decarbonization of its transport operations for many years. According to the company, it now operates 25 emission-free delivery areas across Europe and deploys more than 200 battery-electric trucks in both regional and long-haul transportation.

“We gain valuable real-world experience every day with our battery-electric trucks. The technology works. The next challenge is to identify the right use cases and scale the transformation across the industry. In addition to the necessary economic and regulatory framework conditions, such as toll exemptions, our transport partners need investment certainty as well as a reliable expansion of energy and charging infrastructure,” said Stefan Hohm.

With regard to charging infrastructure, Hohm emphasized the need for a combination of depot charging, meaning charging at company facilities, semi-public charging solutions – publicly accessible charging points on private property – and public charging infrastructure.

Dachser is also driving transformation beyond battery-electric technology. The logistics provider will become the first customer for the Mercedes-Benz NextGenH2 Truck. Beginning at the end of 2026, an initial liquid-hydrogen fuel-cell semi-truck is scheduled to enter daily operation, with two additional identical vehicles to follow by mid-2027.

A recording of the first “Customer Pulse” edition featuring Achim Puchert and Stefan Hohm is available here: https://youtu.be/AuSPeHhe1tA 

Daimler Truck “Customer Pulse”: Putting Customer Perspectives Center Stage

With “Customer Pulse,” Daimler Truck is creating a new platform for open dialogue on the issues shaping road freight transport. The format highlights customer perspectives and brings the voice of the industry into the broader public discussion.

Supporting Customers Throughout the Entire Electrification Journey

Through its TruckCharge offering, Daimler Truck supports customers throughout the entire electrification process, from consulting services to the installation and operation of charging infrastructure and digital charging management solutions. This also includes semi-public charging: Companies can make their own charging points available to external users during periods when they are not needed for internal operations. Daimler Truck provides the corresponding software for booking, controlling and billing charging processes.

At the same time, the company is supporting the expansion of a Europe-wide public charging network for heavy-duty commercial vehicles through Milence, the joint venture it founded together with partners. In doing so, Daimler Truck is contributing to further improve the conditions for economically viable and scalable CO₂-free road freight transport.

About Daimler Truck’s Customer Survey

Daimler Truck regularly surveys fleet operators and transport decision-makers to better understand market requirements, investment criteria and acceptance of new drive technologies. For the present survey, 197 fleet decision-makers from Germany (71), the United Kingdom (64) and France (62) were interviewed.