cars news 10: Mercedes-Benz Urban eTruck Unveiled With 335 HP

Mercedes beat Tesla to the punch by debuting an all-electric heavy truck earlier this summer. Now, the automaker is offering up more details on the truck concept.

Two electric motors drive the rear axle, and together, they produce around 335 hp. Those ponies must go a long way considering the Mercedes-Benz Urban eTruck is suited to carry 26 metric tons, including the truck’s own weight. Fortunately, the big rig also makes a whopping 737 lb-ft of torque. Three lithium-ion battery modules offer a total capacity of 212 kilowatt-hours.

As we’ve said before, this truck isn’t your cross-country hauler. It offers 124 miles of range, or “normally enough for a typical day’s delivery round,” says Mercedes. But despite the short range, the automaker claims its electric truck offers equal levels of performance and load capabilities as a truck with an internal combustion engine. The electric drive setup adds around 3,747 pounds to the truck, but regulators are expected to allow alternative drive trucks to carry an additional 1 metric ton of weight over the limit, so they don’t suffer a hauling disadvantage over lighter internal combustion trucks.

Looking at the exterior of the truck, you’ll notice a giant spoiler that connects the cab with the body. A vent at the front of the spoiler aids in the cooling of the truck, while aerodynamic skirt panels run along the side of the cab. The truck doesn’t have side mirrors, but instead uses cameras to help drivers see their surroundings. LED lights on the grille help convey the truck’s operating status and battery charge.

Inside the cabin, drivers can adjust between different driving modes, including “agile” and “eco.” An “auto” setting adapts the drive style to conditions in a target range. Meanwhile, the telematics system will tell you if your truck fleet has enough juice to make your scheduled deliveries that day.

Despite its shortcomings, the eTruck has potential to make a big impact in curbing pollution and meeting stricter emissions standards. Another solution is autonomous trucks, which are currently being tested by companies such as Mercedes and Otto, a startup company linked to Uber.

Source: Mercedes-Benz