What was going through your mind when you found out that you had the chance to be a part of the trial phase of the eActros?
Gerry: I was very positive about the eActros, and it was quite an honour to be involved in a project like this. Out of ten of these trucks, two were in the testing phase in Switzerland, which gave a unique opportunity to be a part of this endeavour right from the very beginning, making my job all the more exciting.

So how does the eActros drive, also in comparison to regular, diesel trucks?
Gerry: The eActros makes for a very pleasant drive; I was really positively surprised. I was a bit sceptical at first, especially when it comes to the dosing of power, since there are enormous forces at work there. But it quickly became clear that the vehicle could be accelerated proportionally; it reacts pretty much in the same way as a diesel truck.

Was any special training necessary to drive the vehicle, or was there anything specific to watch out for when driving the eActros?
Gerry: We were given some instructions from Mercedes-Benz before we started and allowed to become a bit more familiar with the vehicle to ensure that we would be able to implement the preventative safety measures and carry out the loading process correctly. We learned how we could activate the energy recovery function of the vehicle with nothing more than a push of a button. Whenever the vehicle is moving without the accelerator being pressed down, or when the vehicle is travelling down a decline, i.e. simply rolling along, the batteries are recharged by the recuperation retarder.

What advantages does eActros bring to the transport of general cargo?
Gerry: First and foremost, obviously, it is completely free of emissions, which is especially important when driving within the city. I also had the impression of a very wide-spread acceptance among both customers and the general population. Another major advantage is the overall smaller service interval. Apart from the tyres and coolant for the power units, the parts are practically maintenance-free.

Where did you encounter any disadvantages or limitations with the vehicle?
Gerry: One limitation can be seen in the loading capacity. The eActros can carry a maximum load of 5 tonnes, while a standard truck can carry up to 7.5 tonnes. The range is also rather limited, but overall, I became a big fan of the eActros, going as far as also considering buying an electric car for myself as a private vehicle.

What does a normal working day with the eActros look like? (route planning/distribution area, mileage, charging)
Gerry: Our eActros does an average of 100 to 120 kilometres per day. Our «home territory» is the city of St. Gallen, where we also work with a bicycle currier service. These curriers are responsible for deliveries of smaller packages using nothing more than their own muscle power. Each morning, the driver of the eActros reports to the company’s location at Schwarzenbach and disconnects the truck from the charging station. The truck is then loaded on the ramp and driven to St. Gallen. After handing over the smaller packages to the bicycle curriers, the driver continues with delivering all the heavy goods to their respective recipients.

Would you consider more electric trucks in the fleet a good idea?
Gerry: For shorter routes? Absolutely. I think it is probable that 7.5-tonne trucks will mainly be used, but it would generally be a good idea, and will be a major game-changer especially in deliveries made within cities.