Leinfelden-Echterdingen / Malmö (Sweden) – The fact that electric trucks can be used economically in long-distance transport is demonstrated by the company WLX WeLink Express in Malmö, Sweden.  The company is the first transport service provider in Sweden to put the battery-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 into operation as a tractor-unit truck. 

The eActros 600, which is designed for long-distance transport, is currently being used by WLX WeLink Express for DHL, as truck-trailer combination on a route of over 1,000 kilometers, which is handled jointly by several drivers. With a total length of up to 25.25 meters, seven axles, and a total weight of 36 tons, the eActros 600 is on the road for the international logistics service provider five days a week for a total of about 18 hours per day on two routes between Malmö, Jönköping, and Emmaboda. The electric truck reliably achieves a range of 500 kilometers – even when more than half of the daily route is driven with a link trailer combination. To increase operational efficiency, WLX WeLink Express uses every break to recharge the vehicle. In the future, the eActros 600 will also be used on round trips to Gothenburg during the night shift.

About the eActros 600

Mercedes-Benz Trucks celebrated the series launch of the eActros 600 at the end of November last year at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth. Deliveries to customers began in December 2024. The electric flagship from Mercedes-Benz Trucks has already proven its capabilities several times under real-life conditions: In customer use and as part of the “eActros 600 European Testing Tour 2024”, a 15,000-kilometer all-electric development trip through a total of 22 countries and the “European Testing Tour Winter 2025” on around 6,500 kilometers through Northern Europe, each with a gross combination mass of 40 tons. In addition, the e-truck was voted “International Truck of the Year 2025”. The award is the most important prize in the industry and is presented annually by the International Truck of the Year (IToY) organization, consisting of 24 commercial vehicle journalists from Europe. 

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. 

In order 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.

Sustainability at Mercedes-Benz Trucks

Sustainability is an integral part of the Mercedes-Benz Trucks strategy. As part of Daimler Truck AG, Mercedes-Benz Trucks pursues a clear goal: to gradually decarbonize road freight transport and drive the transformation of the transport industry forward. Through battery-electric and hydrogen-based drive solutions, digital services, and climate-friendly, resource-efficient production and supply processes, Mercedes-Benz Trucks is shaping the path toward locally CO₂e-free transport across the entire value chain. With its safety and assistance systems as well as automated driving functions, Mercedes-Benz Trucks also makes a significant contribution to road safety. In doing so, Mercedes-Benz Trucks plays a key role in advancing Daimler Truck AG’s overall sustainability strategy.

_{[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.}