Electrive reports that this also marks the single-largest planned order so far for Mercedes' eActros 600 battery-powered truck, which can travel up to 500 kilometers, thanks to its 600kWh battery.

The series production of the vehicle could start late 2024, which means that Holcim could receive the battery-electric tractors as soon as 2025. Holcim officials stated that the eActros 600 will be used "for the demanding transportation of building materials such as cement."

Miljan Gutovic, Region Head Europe at Holcim, added that "Holcim is advancing the transition to more sustainable and efficient transportation by decarbonizing our operations’ logistics. We are excited to be partnering with Mercedes-Benz Trucks to electrify our fleet, accelerating our goal for 30% of our heavy-duty truck purchases or contracts to be zero-emission by 2030."

Karin Rådström, CEO Mercedes-Benz Trucks, said that "Holcim is one of Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ most important customers in the construction industry."

Holcim is no stranger to the battery-electric trucks industry, as the company has been using three electric concrete mixers since 2021, provided by Volvo subsidiary Designwerk. Also last year, we wrote about Daimler Truck's announcement that the company is making a first set of fleet electric trucks, called the Mercedes-Benz GenH2, which are to be powered by hydrogen and that will be tested by the likes of Amazon and Holcim, as these companies aim to reduce their carbon footprint related to transport goods.

The vehicles will be refueled at public liquid hydrogen stations, which offer a new type of refilling process for hydrogen-powered vehicles that can run on liquid hydrogen, as this is a more energy-dense and cheaper way to transport the power source.

The eActros 600 has a nominal power of 400kW and a peak power of 600kW and the truck has been designed to work best for heavy-duty long-distance transport scenarios.