Modern cities are highly developed, with narrow streets, crowded populations, and endless traffic jams becoming the main theme of urban road traffic. In light of these special environmental requirements, trucks must also become safer and more user-friendly, coexisting harmoniously with other elements within the city. This translates into practical product features: improved visibility for drivers, lower emissions, and reduced noise. This also means that traditional truck structures are no longer suitable, necessitating a complete innovation from the ground up.
In August 1998, Mercedes-Benz Trucks introduced a brand new model at the Entsorga trade fair: the Econic. Built on the O 530 chassis of the Mercedes Citaro city bus, it features an extended front overhang and excellent driver visibility, providing a new solution for the municipal vehicle market. As a pioneer of the “low-entry” truck structure, the Mercedes Econic showcases the brand’s forward-looking vision, technological expertise, and bold exploration. To date, over 80% of Mercedes Econic models are used for urban waste collection and processing, contributing to the clean operation of modern cities.
The Mercedes Econic has now been in existence for 26 years. Throughout this 26-year journey, the Econic series has undergone two generations of evolution and has remained a leader in the low-entry truck segment. In 2022, the fully electric eEconic model began mass production, marking the entry of the Econic series into an era of electrification and intelligence.
At the “World’s Largest Commercial Vehicle Exhibition” held in September 2024, the Hanover Fair (IAA), Mercedes presented the eEconic 300 fully electric low-entry truck. In today’s article, let’s follow along with the images to gain an in-depth understanding of this unique fully electric truck.
The Mercedes eEconic 300 fully electric low-entry truck is developed based on the diesel version, which has deep roots in the Citaro city bus lineage. From an exterior perspective, the eEconic 300 truly resembles a city bus. The majority of the front is occupied by a large windshield, with its curved shape and low window line providing the driver with outstanding forward visibility.
The eEconic fully electric low-entry truck features a unique cab structure: it is positioned further forward and lowered, with the cab almost entirely located in front of the front axle rather than sitting above it. This lowers the floor height inside the vehicle, providing the driver with better overall visibility and making it easier for personnel to frequently get in and out, thereby reducing labor intensity. This special body structure has been retained since the original Econic model.
Mercedes refers to the Econic’s cab as the “DirectVision Cab,” which translates into direct visibility. Direct visibility means the driver can see without the aid of other tools or devices, using only their eyes. To achieve this, the Econic adopts a “double A-pillar” design inherited from the Citaro city bus, using curved glass for a smooth transition. Additionally, the side walls of the cab are equipped with large glass panels, and the passenger door features a glass door, providing the driver with a transparent and intuitive driving view—these elements are also carried over to the Mercedes eEconic 300 fully electric low-entry truck.
The side mirrors use a lower main mirror combined with a wide-angle mirror configuration to optimize the lower driving visibility. Moreover, the mirror on the passenger side is mounted higher than the driver’s side, making the driver’s head movements more natural and easier to observe. The mirror frames are unadorned, with exposed round pipes, which, while appearing somewhat simple, help reduce blind spots. Additionally, a camera is designed below the eEconic 300’s side mirror to further cover blind spots and enhance driving safety.
Through two generations of evolution, the front design of the Mercedes eEconic 300 fully electric low-entry truck is also quite modern. The shield-shaped front cover constitutes the main element of the front face, embodying Mercedes truck’s classic design language. Inside the front cover, a three-level stacked grille adds a more avant-garde and muscular feel.
The Mercedes three-pointed star emblem and the front millimeter-wave radar are embedded in the front cover. The former significantly enhances vehicle recognition, while the latter can detect objects ahead, enabling features such as ACC adaptive cruise control and ABA5 active braking assistance.
Additionally, the displayed Mercedes eEconic 300 fully electric low-entry truck features an “A” sign on the front. This sign indicates that the vehicle is used for waste collection, a mandatory requirement under German law.
As a fully electric low-entry truck, the Mercedes eEconic 300 has a long front overhang and a low ground clearance. Although the front axle is equipped with air suspension that can raise the ground clearance, the vehicle inevitably encounters bumps while driving. To enhance sturdiness, the eEconic 300 is equipped with a robust metal bumper and an integrated skid plate. The headlights consist of multiple round lights that can be quickly replaced if damaged, with left and right components being symmetrical and interchangeable, thereby reducing costs.
The side of the vehicle door features a model plate with “300,” indicating its battery capacity of 336kWh.
The passenger door of the Mercedes eEconic 300 fully electric low-entry truck adopts a bus-like folding door that folds inward when opened, reducing the vehicle’s external footprint, making it suitable for narrow urban use. Furthermore, the folding door opens without hitting external objects, enhancing safety for pedestrians and cyclists. The folding door also features a large glass panel, providing better visibility and numerous benefits.
One of the “souls” of the low-entry truck is its “low-entry” structure. Unlike traditional trucks, where one must “climb up and down,” a low-entry truck allows for easy access by simply raising a foot. For operations such as waste collection, where personnel frequently get on and off, low-entry trucks significantly reduce labor intensity. The Mercedes eEconic 300 fully electric low-entry truck features two access points, and the interior has a flat floor, facilitating movement for staff inside the vehicle.
The driver’s side uses a conventional door, also designed with a low-entry structure: one can step onto the recessed step area with one foot and then lift the other foot to enter the vehicle in one smooth motion. Inside the cab, the floor is completely flat, making it easier to move around.
In terms of battery configuration, the Mercedes eEconic 300 fully electric low-entry truck shares technology with models like the eActros 300. Three groups of LFP lithium iron phosphate batteries are mounted beneath the chassis, achieving higher space utilization. Each battery group provides 112kWh of energy storage, totaling 336kWh for the vehicle, with a range of 100km under municipal cycle conditions, and 150km under mixed conditions of municipal, regional, and urban distribution. While the range may seem short, it’s essential to note that the operation of onboard equipment requires substantial energy; if solely engaged in distribution, the vehicle’s range will significantly increase.
The displayed Mercedes eEconic 300 fully electric low-entry truck features a 6×2 drive configuration, with the second axle being the drive axle, using air suspension. The third axle is equipped with single tires, also using air suspension, enhancing road safety and stability.
To achieve “easy maintenance,” the Mercedes eEconic 300 features an integrated power control unit located near the vehicle’s entry point, facilitating convenient access for personnel. This area can also serve as a storage space, further enhancing operational efficiency.
In terms of operational efficiency, the eEconic’s average daily operating time is approximately 10 hours. It can be charged with AC power and fast-charged with DC power, achieving a full charge in about 2 hours, allowing for quick turnaround times and improving operational efficiency.
In summary, the Mercedes eEconic 300 fully electric low-entry truck represents a remarkable innovation in the urban transport market. It embodies modern technological advancements while ensuring driver safety and convenience. Its pioneering role in the low-entry truck segment signifies a bright future for urban transport solutions.
The features of the Medium X4 superstructure include a compact and low height at the rear, making it easy to collect waste in urban environments. The hydraulic cylinder is mounted on the roof to assist in shifting the center of gravity, enhancing work stability and reliability. In standard configuration, the volume of the Medium X4 superstructure reaches 18 to 25 cubic meters, with special configurations available to extend the volume further to 30 cubic meters.
The dual-bin tipping frame allows for the collection of two waste bins simultaneously, and the rear opening is designed with a curtain to easily cover the superstructure, reducing unpleasant odors and liquid spillage.
The lifting and tipping of the waste bins are controlled via buttons on both sides.
The superstructure features foldable steps on both sides.
The original tail lights have been directly converted to a vertical layout, mounted on both sides of the superstructure.
A wheel chock is installed below the superstructure on the passenger side, allowing workers to easily grab it and place it under the wheels when exiting the vehicle, ensuring stable parking.
Next, let’s step into the driver’s cabin to experience it. As a new generation pure electric low-entry truck, the Mercedes eEconic 300 features a multimedia cockpit. The LCD dashboard replaces the mechanical dashboard and includes a multimedia screen, enhancing its level of intelligence. The steering wheel has also been upgraded to the latest four-spoke multifunction design, equipped with multiple buttons and a touchpad for easy control of vehicle functions. However, due to its municipal vehicle positioning, the steering wheel material is a notch lower than the leather-wrapped and metal-trimmed steering wheel found in the Actros.
The gear shifting is controlled by a stalk, located to the right of the steering column, in keeping with the family design language of other Mercedes trucks.
The dashboard of the Mercedes eEconic 300 features a flat design rather than a wraparound style, allowing for more space within the cabin for personnel movement.
Three screens are installed on the dashboard. The upper left is the blind spot monitoring screen, displaying images from cameras below the left and right rearview mirrors and the rear camera, assisting the driver in maneuvering the vehicle in tight spaces. The upper right is the control panel for the superstructure, allowing control and monitoring of superstructure functions and operational status. The lower screen is part of the Mercedes multimedia cockpit, enabling adjustments to vehicle parameters such as air conditioning and lighting.
Under the new regulations of the EU GSR general safety rules, electronic handbrakes and automatic parking functions have become standard equipment for more and more trucks. Next to it is a special yellow button exclusive to Mercedes electric trucks, responsible for controlling the vehicle’s high-voltage electrical system. When pressed, the vehicle’s high-voltage circuit system is powered down, ensuring the safety of the entire vehicle in emergencies. In addition to the button, Mercedes has designed a power-off wire next to the seat, which can be cut to disconnect the high-voltage electrical system for rapid access by firefighters in emergencies.
When the vehicle is in for maintenance, the high-voltage circuit system must also be disconnected, and care must be taken to avoid powering the circuit during maintenance to ensure the safety of technicians and related personnel. For this reason, the power-off button is designed with a hollow section that can accommodate a lock, preventing accidental or unintended reactivation of the circuit. Mercedes has designed a comprehensive set of procedures for the maintenance of electric trucks; once the button is locked, the key for the lock must be placed in a conspicuous red safety box, and warning signs along with vehicle and technician information magnetic signs are placed on the vehicle to minimize the occurrence of accidents.
For modern urban environments, electric trucks are considered one of the best solutions. With developed infrastructure, electric trucks can more easily recharge, and the demands for range and sustained working capabilities are lowered, making it easier for engineers to balance vehicle performance. Since its mass production began in 2022, the Mercedes eEconic 300 electric low-entry truck has been deployed across various industries, covering municipal services, airports, road maintenance, and more. In the demanding niches, Mercedes trucks are undeniably the industry leader. As one of the “pioneers in low-entry truck design,” the Mercedes Econic embodies this clearly.
