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DACHSER uses Mercedes-Benz electric trucks across Europe

January 10, 2024

DACHSER, a global logistics provider, has initiated the operation of a fully electric truck for cross-border transportation. The eActros from Mercedes-Benz is now making regular trips five times a week from the Hof logistics center to the branch in Kladno near Prague, a distance of approximately 200 kilometers, and back.

After successful test phases in February and May 2023, the eActros has begun regular operation on the cross-border route. The service partner for this initiative is Flytt Logistic GmbH.

The 40-ton eTruck is used in two shifts: regional distribution transport in the Hof area during the day, and the cross-border route between Germany and the Czech Republic at night. The eActros 300, as per the manufacturer, has an average range of up to 300 kilometers, influenced by factors such as topography or weight. The vehicle is charged at fixed points and directly at the DACHSER branch in Kladno, Czech Republic, taking just over an hour to charge.

DACHSER is implementing a long-term climate protection strategy, focusing on efficiency, innovation, and integrative responsibility. The company has been using battery-powered electric vehicles since 2018, including as part of the sustainable city delivery concept “DACHSER Emission-Free Delivery”. The vehicle fleet with alternative drive systems is continually being expanded, including in the long-distance sector.

The project in Hof is supported by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport under the directive on the promotion of light and heavy commercial vehicles with alternative, climate-friendly drive systems and the associated refueling and charging infrastructure (KsNI). The funding guideline is coordinated by NOW GmbH and applications are approved by the Federal Office of Logistics and Mobility.

Klaus Neubing, General Manager at DACHSER in Hof, said, “Our tests with the eActros have provided us with important insights into the suitability of electromobility for everyday use in long-distance transport. We are very pleased that we have now been able to set up the first cross-border line in DACHSER’s European network in all-electric transport with a great deal of pioneering spirit and teamwork. Together with our long-standing service partner Flytt Logistic GmbH, we have shown that it pays to break new ground.”