Tobias Wagner, a professional truck driver and content creator also known as “Elektrotrucker,” has set off on a round-the-world tour in a Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 electric truck.
Wagner aims to be the first person to circumnavigate the globe with a long-haul electric truck within one year. The planned route covers 45,000 kilometers through 30 countries in Europe, Asia, Australia, North America and South America, and is intended to be completed with a maximum of 80 charging stops. The aim of the expedition is to document the performance of battery-electric long-haul technology under a wide range of geographical, climatic and infrastructural conditions.
“I have been driving battery-electric trucks in international long-haul transport for several years and know what is already possible today,” said Tobias Wagner. “With this round-the-world tour, I want to find out how far we really are. I will reach places where electric mobility already works and others where it still reaches its limits.”
The expedition is more than an individual adventure, said Christian Wilz, Chairman of the Management Board of Mercedes-Benz Trucks Germany. “It is a signal of how far the technology has already come. Tobias Wagner’s trip will inspire people beyond the transport industry about the possibilities of electric long-haul transport, while at the same time drawing attention to the progress still needed in infrastructure.”
The route will lead from Hanover, Germany via the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia and Bulgaria to Turkey, then through Central and East Asia, including Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, China, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Further stages are planned in Australia, the US and Latin America. The final route may change as travel planning progresses.
Logistics company DHL will provide vehicle transport on the necessary sea routes between continents.
The expedition vehicle is based on a series-produced Mercedes-Benz eActros 600. Modifications for the requirements of a round-the-world tour include two spare-wheel carriers, single tires, auxiliary headlights and a specially developed camper body from Bliss Mobil.
The truck supports CCS charging at 400 kW. Tobias has also equipped the truck with his own DC charging station from Alpitronic so that, if necessary, it can also be charged from an AC circuit at up to 43 kW.
Source: Mercedes-Benz Trucks
