The logistics service provider Frigosped and the pharmaceutical manufacturer B. Braun have integrated three fully electric semitrailer trucks of the type Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 into their long-distance traffic process. The vehicles have been operating in daily scheduled service since July 2025 between the central warehouse in Melsungen and the B. Braun locations in Glandorf, Recklinghausen, and Eggenstein. This allows the two companies to implement a joint pilot project for the gradual decarbonization of their transport logistics.
Three daily tours with the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600
The electric trucks are planned for around 10,000 kilometers of mileage per month. They each serve one of the approximately 50 daily tours and are fully integrated into the existing logistics process of Frigosped. The vehicles transport pre-loaded trailers on fixed routes within tight time windows. With digital control and real-time monitoring, a punctuality rate of 99.8 percent is still achieved.
"It is important for us to test the e-trucks under our specific conditions and to gain our own experience," says B. Braun Logistics Manager Michael Bähr.
There is still much skepticism about this
technology in the logistics industry – also due to the higher costs.
"But after the first four weeks, we are very satisfied: Charging, technology, and punctuality work flawlessly," says Bähr.
The eActros 600 used is designed for a maximum train combination of 42 tons. The vehicle has three battery packs with a total capacity of 621 kilowatt-hours, enabling ranges of up to 500 kilometers. The consumption is reported to be about 120 to 130 kilowatt-hours per 100 kilometers. The charging power is currently up to 400 kilowatts via CCS (Combined Charging System), prospectively up to 1,000 kilowatts via MCS (Megawatt Charging System). This should enable 80 percent of the battery capacity to be charged within about 30 minutes in the future.
The main charging of the eActros 600 takes place during shift breaks
The main charging of the vehicles takes place during shift breaks, on two tours an intermediate charge is necessary. There is still a lack of comprehensive charging infrastructure, which is why external stations are also used. An in-house charging facility at the B. Braun sites
is under review, depending on the further progress of the project.
The driver teams show great interest – more drivers signed up for the new vehicles than there were places available. Before first use, all drivers receive specific training on the operation and handling of the new technology. B. Braun already brings experience with e-vehicles from the internal transport at the Melsungen site. Frigosped had previously tested two electric semitrailer trucks.
The project is scheduled for three years and aims to provide reliable data on energy consumption, cost-effectiveness, and operational safety under real conditions. Statements on CO₂ savings and total operating costs will follow after the test phase is completed. The experiences gathered serve as a basis for a possible expansion of the electric fleet of both companies.
Background: Frigosped and B. Braun
The logistics service provider Frigosped operates in the areas of truck transport, warehouse logistics, value-added services, and logistics consulting. The company focuses on full truckload transports ("Full Truck Load") and specializes in logistics for food, pet food, beverages, and disposal products. Frigosped organizes around 165,000
transports per year with a fixed pool of 280 vehicles. The storage capacity is 60,000 square meters and provides space for about 50,000 pallets. Around 1.8 million pallets are handled there annually. The various locations have temperature-controlled storage areas between 2–8 °C, 14–20 °C, as well as non-cooled zones for non-food products. The service offering includes repackaging, assembly, and labeling, internal transports, as well as the complete supply of production sites with raw and packaging materials.
The Frigosped customer B. Braun SE, headquartered in Melsungen (Hesse), for which the logistics provider is deploying the new eActros, is a globally operating provider of medical and pharmaceutical products. The product range includes around 5,000 items, including cannulas, infusion and injection systems, dialysis devices, wound care products, custom-made medicines (CAPS), as well as surgical and orthopedic instruments.
Mercedes-Benz eActros 600: The long-distance e-truck in logistics practice
An overview of other practical users of the Mercedes-Benz eActros can be found here. The list of users of the long-distance e-truck from Daimler Truck now ranges from A for Amazon to W for Wessels
