Daimler Truck Makes Crucial Advances in the Development of Fast Charging Technologies for Electric Trucks

As reported by the DAX-listed company from Leinfelden-Echterdingen, a prototype of the battery-electric long-haul truck eActros 600 has been successfully tested for the first time at a one-megawatt charging station. The test took place at the development and test center in Wörth am Rhein, which according to the company marks a significant step in electromobility.

Charging power of one megawatt allows the batteries of the eActros 600 to be charged from 20 to 80 percent in about 30 minutes. This is a significant advantage for charging during short breaks on long-haul journeys. Peter Ziegler, Head of Electric Charging Components at Mercedes-Benz Trucks, emphasized the importance of this breakthrough for the industry. He announced that the company is now working to develop this technology to market maturity, with planned series production of the vehicle by the end of the year.

Competitors such as MAN are also working on the further development of these technologies. In Munich, MAN already presented a charging process with more than 700 kilowatts in collaboration with ABB E-mobility. Currently, a maximum of 350 kilowatt hours is possible with conventional CCS rapid charging systems (Combined Charging System).

The innovative charging standard MCS (Megawatt Charging System) being used here is still relatively new and requires the corresponding development of infrastructure, especially for use at highway rest stops. In the depot operations of a freight forwarder, however, longer charging times with lower power are also practical.

The introduction of this technology could enable a significant acceleration of charging processes and thus greatly increase the acceptance and efficiency of electric trucks in long-distance transport. Daimler Truck plans to offer customers the option to retrofit the MCS technology later on. Despite the advancements in electric mobility, Daimler Truck's stock recorded a slight decline of 0.94 percent to 43.14 euros in XETRA trading.