With the rise of the electric car, it was only a matter of time before the electric truck was brought out. Mercedes Benz have been working on the world’s first fully electric truck, which has an admissible total weight of up to 26 tonnes. We’re looking at a future where heavy goods vehicles have zero local admissions, meaning that we can look to saving our planet.
How do they work?
The Urban E-truck is based on the heavy-duty Mercedes Benz distribution truck, but with an entirely revised driving concept. The power to the vehicle is supplied by three lithium-ion battery modules, plus a new electrically driven rear axle, which was originally developed for the Mercedes Benz Citaro hybrid bus.
The electric motors in the truck produce a combined 335 horsepower, and it will be able to travel around 200km on one charge.
The future is here
The truck looks sleek and futuristic – everything you would expect from an electric vehicle. It uses cameras instead of exterior mirrors, and instead of a grill, features a reconfigurable LED display that can show the Mercedes badge or even the vehicle’s operating status.
The truck has three driving modes: auto, eco and agile, and Mercedes’ FleetBoard allows owners of fleets keep track of the loads, range and routes of their trucks.
Reduced noise
One of the main benefits that will appeal to non-truckers about the Urban E-truck is that the noise coming from it will be reduced dramatically, meaning that the loud noise emissions that city-dwellers endure on a daily basis will soon be a thing of the past.
Tips for reducing your truck emissions
Chances are, the general public will have to wait a while before they can purchase a fleet of electric trucks, but in the meantime, it’s worth knowing some handy ways that you can reduce your truck emissions:
- • Reduce idle time: If you are planning to be waiting in your vehicle for ten seconds or more, turn off the ignition.
- • Avoid unnecessary ‘revving’: When driving, remember to ease up on both the gas pedal and the break.
- • Conduct routine maintenance on your fleet.
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