Mercedes-Benz Trucks is preparing to evaluate the readiness of megawatt charging for heavy-duty electric trucks with a planned long-haul endurance test involving two eActros 600 battery-electric trucks operating on a route from Germany to Sweden.
The scheduled test will span approximately 2,400 kilometers (about 1,490 miles), traveling through Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, and Sweden, and is intended to assess real-world interaction between the eActros 600 and Megawatt Charging System (MCS) infrastructure from multiple charging providers. The effort is part of broader industry work to validate high-power charging as a viable solution for long-distance battery-electric freight.
During the planned runs, the trucks are expected to charge at both public and private locations equipped with megawatt-capable chargers, allowing Mercedes-Benz Trucks to analyze charging behavior, system compatibility, and thermal performance under operational conditions. The company has said the test will also support future evaluations of performance in colder climates.
Megawatt charging is designed to deliver charging power of up to 1,000 kilowatts, significantly reducing charging time compared with existing combined charging systems. Under suitable conditions, the eActros 600 is expected to be capable of charging from approximately 20% to 80% in around 30 minutes, a capability viewed as critical for improving utilization in long-haul operations.
The eActros 600 is equipped with three battery packs totaling 621 kWh of installed capacity and is designed for a typical long-haul range of around 500 kilometers (about 310 miles), with the potential for higher daily mileage when intermediate charging is integrated into mandatory driver breaks.
Mercedes-Benz Trucks said the upcoming endurance test will contribute to ongoing development work within CharIN, the industry organization responsible for standardizing the MCS interface, as manufacturers and infrastructure providers work toward interoperable megawatt-level charging for heavy-duty vehicles.
