This Is Mercedes' Answer To The Tesla Semi Truck

Sep. 17, 2020 7:05 PM ET by Martin Bigg Concept / 14 Comments

Mercedes has unveiled its new fuel-cell and fully electric long-haul trucks.

With the upcoming launches of the EQS sedan and EQA and EQB crossovers, Mercedes' electric car lineup will soon be expanding rapidly beyond the EQC, which is currently the only fully electric model in the German automaker's lineup. Mercedes' electric expansion won't be limited to passenger cars, either, as Daimler Trucks has unveiled two new fuel-efficient Mercedes-Benz trucks designed for long-distance hauling.

Presented as a concept, the Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck features fuel-cell technology enabling a range of up to 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) on a single tank of hydrogen, making it ideal for long-distance delivery driving.

This range could also potentially improve when the GenH2 Truck enters production. For comparison, the recently unveiled Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell, which is the world's first mass-produced fuel cell heavy-duty truck, also has a range of 620 miles, but Mercedes hasn't revealed how long it takes to refuel. Thanks to its two liquid hydrogen tanks and powerful fuel cell system, Mercedes claims the performance will be on par with a comparable conventional diesel truck. Customer trials of the GenH2 Truck are planned for 2023 before series production starts in the second half of the decade.

In addition, Daimler Trucks has also presented its answer to the Tesla Semi Truck with the first preview of its new battery-electric long-haul truck.

Designed to "cover regular journeys on plannable routes in an energy-efficient manner," the Mercedes-Benz eActros LongHaul delivers a range of around 500 kilometers (310 miles) on a single charge, but this falls short of the longer-range Tesla Semi's 500-mile range. Production of the eActros LongHaul will begin in 2024. Tesla's Semi Truck, on the other hand, is expected to arrive in 2021.

The eActros LongHaul joins the shorter-range Mercedes-Benz eActros designed for distribution transport, which was unveiled back in 2018. Since then, the electric truck has been tested by customers in "everyday transport operations." Following extensive testing, Daimler Trucks is confident that the production model will boast a better range than the prototype's 200-kilometer (124 miles) range when it arrives next year.

This Is Mercedes' Answer To The Tesla Semi Truck

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This Is Mercedes' Answer To The Tesla Semi Truck

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