The truck industry must comply with binding EU climate protection targets. That leads to innovations on the road.

In the year after next, Daimler Truck wants to have an electric truck for long-distance transport with a range of around 500 kilometers ready for series production.

Test vehicles of the eActros LongHaul will be on the road as early as this year, as Daimler Truck announced on Monday in Leinfelden-Echterdingen near Stuttgart.

Production of the first eActros started last year in Wörth, Rhineland-Palatinate. Depending on the version, this truck for distribution traffic has three or four battery packs and a range of up to 400 kilometers.

In the transition from the combustion engine to new drives, Daimler Truck relies on batteries and fuel cells. The manufacturer sees itself as the world market leader for commercial vehicles and employs more than 100,000 people.

The truck industry is under pressure from the EU to comply with binding climate protection targets. New models should emit an average of 15 percent less carbon dioxide by 2025 and at least 30 percent by 2030. The reference period for this is 2019/20. If the requirements are not met, there are high penalties.