Battery-electric truck completes Arctic long-distance challenge

The eNordkapp Challenge is an annual winter expedition for fully electric vehicles, covering nearly 8,000 kilometers from Germany to Norway’s North Cape—the northernmost point in Europe accessible by road. Held since 2018, the challenge is designed to test electric vehicles under real-world conditions, including low temperatures, long distances and limited infrastructure.

In its latest edition, the challenge marked a milestone: a Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 became the first battery-electric semi-trailer truck ever to participate.

Objectives: Proving electric long-haul capability
The objective of the eActros 600’s participation was to demonstrate that battery-electric trucks can handle long-distance transport, heavy loads and extreme climates without special modifications. Key focus areas included vehicle reliability, energy management, charging practicality and driver usability in sub-zero conditions.

Vehicle and operating setup
The eActros 600 was supplied by Austrian logistics company VEGA International CarTransport & LogisticTrading GmbH. Operated by drivers Herbert and Silvia Salentinig, the truck followed a route from northern Germany and Denmark through central Sweden along the Inlandsvägen highway, continuing to the North Cape.

The vehicle was paired with a car transporter semi-trailer carrying a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, resulting in a gross vehicle weight of 32.5 tonnes—an operating configuration regularly used in VEGA’s day-to-day logistics operations.

Performance under extreme conditions
The eActros 600 completed the ten-day expedition largely in standard production configuration. The only adaptation was the use of winter-specific tires suitable for Arctic conditions. Throughout the journey, the truck operated in temperatures as low as –41 °C.

Despite challenging charging conditions—including short charging cables, frozen card readers and the need to unhitch the trailer at some locations—the vehicle remained fully operational. Charging stops did not prevent progress, underscoring the robustness of the truck and the adaptability of the operating team.

According to driver Herbert Salentinig, the vehicle performed consistently throughout the journey, confirming its suitability for demanding long-haul applications.

Technology background: eActros 600
The Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 entered series production at the end of 2024, with customer deliveries starting shortly thereafter. The model is equipped with three lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery packs providing a total installed capacity of 621 kWh. This battery technology allows more than 95% of the installed capacity to be used, supporting long range and long service life.

A newly developed electric drive axle enables a range of approximately 500 kilometers without intermediate charging under realistic long-haul conditions at 40 tonnes gross combination weight. With opportunity charging during legally required driver breaks, daily distances of well over 1,000 kilometers are achievable, depending on route and infrastructure availability.

The eActros 600 is designed for a gross combination mass of up to 44 tonnes and offers a payload of around 22 tonnes with a standard semitrailer under EU regulations. Durability targets match those of conventional long-haul trucks, with an expected service life of up to 1.2 million kilometers over ten years.

Expanding the electric long-haul portfolio
Based on the eActros 600 platform, Mercedes-Benz Trucks has expanded its battery-electric range with additional variants. Customers can select from multiple cab designs, battery configurations, wheelbases and axle layouts, resulting in more than 40 base vehicle variants. All share the core technologies proven during the eNordkapp Challenge, including LFP batteries and the dedicated electric axle.

Conclusion
By completing the eNordkapp Challenge, the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 demonstrated that battery-electric trucks are capable of meeting the demands of long-haul transport—even in Arctic winter conditions. The expedition provides practical evidence that electric heavy-duty vehicles can combine range, payload and reliability, supporting the transition toward zero-emission logistics on a continental scale.

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