Mercedes and Solomon Commercials deliver electric refrigerated truck

Mercedes-Benz Trucks UK has partnered with Solomon Commercials to deliver its first fridge-bodied eActros electric truck.

The truck, which is based on a 4x2 eActros 300, is fitted with three nickel manganese cobalt battery packs for a total installed capacity of 336kWh giving it a range of up to 330km (205 miles).

The batteries can be recharged from 20%-80% in 75 minutes using a 400A 160kW charger.

The eActros is designed from the ground up as an electric truck, with twin electric motors located within the rear eAxle.

Asa there is no need for a prop shaft, chassis space is freed up for the batteries to be set across the vehicle's full width, which helps create a low centre of gravity.

The motors drive through a special transmission with two forward and two reverse gears, allowing the truck to cruise at up to 89km/h (55mph).

The body, meanwhile, is designed for optimum aerodynamic efficiency to reduce drag and help maximise range. It features a full Solomon Slipstream system incorporating a tapered bulkhead, 3D roof deflector and sloping Kamm tail.

Refrigeration is controlled by a Carrier TRS Syberia over-cab chiller unit and Carrier Datacold temperature monitoring system.

The vehicle also incorporates a 1,500kg Dhollandia column tail lift, including a reversing camera integrated with the truck's Multimedia Cockpit display screens.

Other standard equipment includes MirrorCam, Active Brake Assist 5, and an Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System.

Launched last year, the eActros is also available as a 6x2 chassis, with 27-tonne GVW and a body-and-payload allowance of 16.6 tonnes, and as an eActros 400 with four batteries allowing up to 400km (249 miles) of range. Deliveries of the first vehicles to UK customers are now underway.

Mercedes-Benz Trucks head of future sustainability, James Venables, said: "The eActros is a truck for a new era, and by launching this refrigerated demonstrator, we're showing that it's ready to work in real-life applications – anyone interested in trialling this exciting vehicle should contact their Mercedes-Benz Dealer as soon as possible.

"We're here to support operators on the journey towards CO2-neutral transport too, though. All our Dealers are fully qualified and eTruck-ready, while our team can provide valuable advice and assistance on all aspects of electric truck operation, from charging infrastructure to a range of digital services to increase utilisation and optimise the total cost of ownership."

Solomon Commercials managing director, Anthony Clegg, added: "The road to net zero is no longer an optional extra; it's a certainty, and more and more customers are actively looking to introduce carbon-neutral policies and to minimise the impact of their vehicles on the environment.

"We're proud to work with manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz, helping customers transition to zero-emissions transport.

“Adopting these vehicles is certainly picking up pace, particularly with the Government wanting to reach stringent emissions targets and create clean-air cities. Electric vehicles will play an important role in ensuring this is achieved."

Solomon Commercials is a UK manufacturer of temperature-controlled rigids.