From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report.

Sashnee Moodley:

Original-equipment manufacturer Daimler Truck Southern Africa (DTSA) has launched a line of electric heavy-duty trucks, the e-Actros range, as part of its Power Up electric mobility offering. Marleny Arnoldi attended the launch.

Marleny Arnoldi:

The fully battery-electric truck range includes the Mercedes-Benz eActros 300, eActros 400 and truck tractor variants, all with different wheelbase configurations.

The range offers zero emissions and zero noise, and complements the FUSO eCanter light-duty electric trucks that DTSA launched in 2020.

The eActros 300 has three lithium-ion battery packs with a battery capacity of 336 kWh and offers a travel range of 330 km. it can be charged from 20% to 80% within one hour and 15 minutes.

The gross vehicle mass of the eActros 300 ranges from 19 t to 27 t, offering body and payloads ranging from 8.2 t to 16.1 t.

The eActros 400 has four batteries with a capacity of 448 kWh and a travel range of 400 km. This model has a gross vehicle mass of 27 t and payload of up to 15.4 t.

The new trucks incorporate Mercedes-Benz’s patented electric axle technology. DTSA product strategy head Justin Barnard tells us more.

DTSA product strategy head Justin Barnard:

Marleny Arnoldi:

The trucks are best suited for distribution applications in cities, including the fast-moving consumer goods and parcel delivery sectors. It can power refrigeration systems using the existing batteries on the truck.

Barnard elaborates about the benefits of using an electric truck.

DTSA product strategy head Justin Barnard:

Marleny Arnoldi:

DTSA’s e-mobility offering includes an e-consultancy service to help customers plan the additional charging and/or renewable-energy infrastructure required to charge the vehicles and further reduce customers’ carbon emissions.

The e-consultancy offering covers the entire planning process from developing an individual e-mobility rollout plan to full depot electrification, as well as vehicle selection advice. These advisers can also assist with grid connection and navigating the regulatory environment on renewable-energy installations.

Through smart charging, customers are able to charge vehicles at times when electricity tariffs are lower, which also helps to reduce the peak power demand on the grid. The e-consultancy team can provide three-dimensional modelling for customers’ depots or plants to ensure the most practical investments are made.

DTSA is currently working with commercial charging infrastructure provider Aeversa to provide customers with charging stations. Barnard unpacks the e-consultancy offering and charging matters.

DTSA product strategy head Justin Barnard:

Sashnee Moodley:

That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next week for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy. Don’t forget to listen to the audio version of our Engineering News daily email newsletter.