Our Digital Services Consultant recently spent the day at Wentworth Park with Ali, Mercedes-Benz Driver Trainer, putting the cutting-edge e600 electric truck through its paces on a short but revealing journey to the new truck charging hub at Markham Moor on the A1.
Covering just 35 miles, the trip may have been short, but the insights were significant. The e600, loaded to approximately 36 tonnes gross vehicle weight, delivered an impressive energy consumption of 87kWh/100km – a figure that highlights the real-world efficiency of modern electric HGVs.
Powerful Charging Performance
At Markham Moor, the truck was connected to a 400kW supercharger, where it achieved an incredible 402kW charge rate within just 40 seconds, starting at 77% battery. Even more impressively, the charge rate remained high – delivering 212kW even at 96% charge. These figures demonstrate the capability of the new charger infrastructure and the truck’s own battery management system.
The depot features two charging bays with automated ANPR barriers, and users can book charging slots via the Travis portal, enabling a smooth and scheduled charging experience.
Innovations in Driver Technology
The e600 comes equipped with several updates that significantly enhance the driving and operational experience:
- New driver display with sharper, high-resolution graphics
- Updated remote Truck App 3.0, showing live charging speeds, range estimates, and time to full charge
- Advanced sat nav system using ‘Here’ mapping for smarter route planning and EV-friendly charging options
Real-World Range and Efficiency
On a full charge, the truck delivered a range of 342 miles (550 km) – around 50 km more than the published range – an encouraging performance that demonstrates reliability under load. The return leg of the journey, which included a climb from 77m to 215m above sea level, saw total round-trip consumption at 102kWh/100km, a slight increase due to the hilly terrain.
Interestingly, the eTruck Ready planning tool had forecast 115.5kWh/100km, meaning the e600 actually outperformed the prediction. In comparison, estimated diesel consumption for the same route was 29.4L/100km. (9.61mpg).
Substantial Cost Savings
Perhaps most compelling was the cost comparison between electric and diesel:
- Electric cost (actual): £31.60 (@ 25p/kWh)
- Diesel cost (predicted): £45.54 (@ £1.25/L)
- Savings (predicted): £13.94 over just 77 miles
This hands-on test provided compelling evidence of how electric HGVs can deliver real-world performance, efficiency, and cost benefits, especially when paired with modern infrastructure and digital tools.
As we continue to explore and support the transition to sustainable transport, experiences like this help shape the future of our operations—and the industry as a whole.
