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heavy-duty collisions. In addition,
airbag systems and seatbelt tensioners
are available to increase occupant
protection in all vehicle variants.
Frank Müller, Head of Accident
Research & Passive Safety at
Mercedes-Benz Truck, added:
“The test showed that the mechanical
stress was high – but our concept
works reliably.”
A GLIMPSE BEHIND THE SCENES
OF A SPECIAL TEST
Prior to the test, simulation-based
analyses were carried out and sensors
were installed and precisely calibrated;
each component was precisely tailored
to the test scenario.
“For me personally, the last two to
three minutes before the crash are
particularly fascinating,” said Christoph
Berger from the Passive Safety team,
describing the moment just before the
test sequence is triggered. “Everything
becomes quieter than before, and
there is a concentrated tension in the
air.” Upon impact, more than a ton of
mass collides with the side of the truck
at a speed of over 50 km/h.
HIGH-VOLTAGE SYSTEM
DESIGNED FOR SAFETY
The high-voltage (HV) system,
including batteries, meets strict internal
requirements in terms of insulation
technology, mechanical protection,
and 昀椀re protection components to
reduce potential risks after severe
damage. Production vehicles thus
meet all current legal standards as
well as brand-speci昀椀c test criteria
that are signi昀椀cantly above regulatory
requirements.
After each physical test, a release
check is 昀椀rst carried out by specialized
emergency services; only then does
the detailed dismantling of central
components begin for damage analysis
against simulation data.
Müller said: “The results clearly con昀椀rm
our expectations; there would have
been no danger here in practical use.”
Mercedes-Benz Trucks celebrated
the series launch of the eActros 600
at the end of November last year at
the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth.
Deliveries to customers began in
December 2024. The electric 昀氀agship
from Mercedes-Benz Trucks has
already proven its capabilities several
times under real-life conditions: In
customer use and as part of the
“eActros 600 European Testing Tour
2024”, a 15,000-kilometer all-electric
development trip through a total of 22
countries and the “European Testing
Tour Winter 2025” on around 6,500
kilometers through Northern Europe,
each with a gross combination mass of
40 tonnes.
The high battery capacity of over
600 kilowatt hours - hence the
model designation 600 – and a new,
particularly ef昀椀cient electric drive
axle developed in-house enable the
eActros 600 to achieve a range of
500 kilometers without intermediate
charging. This range is accomplished
under very realistic and practical
conditions with a gross combination
mass of 40 tons, which can also be
signi昀椀cantly exceeded depending on
the driving style and the route. The
eActros 600 will even be able to cover
well over 1,000 kilometers per day.
Intermediate charging during statutory
driver breaks makes this possible,
provided that charging options are
available.
WHY TESTING CONTINUES
EVEN AFTER SERIES
PRODUCTION HAS STARTED
Mercedes-Benz Trucks said it conducts
regular physical tests, even when a
model is already in series production,
in order to derive continuous
improvements. New 昀椀ndings from 昀椀eld
data are continuously fed back into
the product range. This ensures that
technological developments can be
implemented promptly, legal changes
are complied with, and new customer
requirements are taken into account.
With this approach, Mercedes-Benz
Trucks is consistently pursuing its Vision
Zero goals for maximum road safety for
both conventional and battery-electric
heavy-duty vehicles in Europe.
The e-truck was voted “International
Truck of the Year 2025”
JOURNAL
www.iaea-online.org/news/the-assessor | AUTUMN 2025 | THE ASSESSORS JOURNAL
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