Transportation sector ready for electric mobility

Great autonomy gives e-trucks a boost

Daimler Truck Belux is a big supporter of the transition within the transport sector to increasingly electric driving. Especially after the positive feedback from customers who use electric Mercedes-Benz trucks for their road transport. They shared those experiences at their customer event e.Mission, this year entirely dedicated to electric mobility.

The electrification of transportation has become a key element in the pursuit of a more sustainable future. Investments in forward-looking infrastructure therefore play a crucial role in supporting the growing fleet of electric trucks on our roads. The fact that Fluvius recently announced that it will invest four billion euros in the expansion of charging infrastructure and that Fastned has plans to open charging stations specifically for heavy transport is music to the ears of the industry. The same is true at Daimler Truck Belux, which aims to gain a prominent position in the electric truck segment with its eActros. The experiences of the first users offer valuable insight into the performance and costs of the eActros 400 after a long-term operational period. The future looks bright.

Autonomy is surprising

Laurent Van Mieghem, planning manager at Van Mieghem Logistics, is particularly delighted with the use of the eActros 400. "The truck covered 40,000 kilometers in ten months, in both summer and winter conditions. I was particularly pleasantly surprised by the autonomy of the eActros 400. Daimler promised us an autonomy of 400 kilometers and this was easily met, and even exceeded. The Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) was also generally very close to the calculations we were shown before the purchase. However, there are significant differences between summer and winter months. Using locally produced energy through solar panels did have its impact on the cost." Wim Claes of Wim Claes Transport & Logistics added that the reliability of the vehicle gives him peace of mind: "The eActros does what it is supposed to do."

Exceptionally favorable TCO

Transport Vandijck is playing the sustainability card to the fullest, supported by customers who are asking for the sustainable transport of their goods. "We already invested in a 150 kilowatt-hour DC charging station at our site, so we are fully prepared for the arrival of the two eActros 600 trucks. We will even deploy them on a route to and from Switzerland. That's how much confidence we have in the autonomy," Nathalie Vandijck told e-Mission. Michiel Verdonck, manager of VM-Milktrans, emphasized the extremely favorable TCO of this vehicle: "Even without the support of Flemish subsidies, electric trucks are viable and attractive in today's market. In addition, it was the technology of e-axle that won me over to order six eActros 600 trucks."

Evolution to flexible electricity prices

e.Mission also provided a platform for Fluvius and Synergrid to highlight crucial aspects of electric vehicle integration. They stressed the importance of global energy visions, facilitating the right investments and attracting qualified personnel to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy solutions. A key message in advance was that there will certainly be enough electricity available, especially as more and more people choose to produce and use electricity locally. Synergrid calls on companies to use an intelligent grid, where users should use the power when it is available. This implies that, if possible, companies should produce their own electricity to reduce the load on the grid. Both organizations assume that the market will move toward a system of flexible prices. Prices will even vary from hour to hour, ensuring that those who can be flexible in their use will benefit.