Mercedes-Benz Trucks has delivered the first five eEconic battery-electric refuse collection vehicles to Stuttgart’s municipal waste management authority (AWS), marking the initial phase of a ten-vehicle deployment.
The electric trucks have entered service from AWS’s newly developed operations centre in Stuttgart-Wangen, which has been purpose-built to support battery-electric refuse collection vehicles.
First Five Vehicles Enter Service
The first five Mercedes-Benz eEconic 300 trucks are equipped with approximately 300 kWh of usable battery capacity.
Each vehicle features a Faun Variopress rear-loading refuse collection body with a capacity of 21 cubic metres, along with a Faun Skylift lifting system for waste collection operations.
AWS plans to receive an additional five eEconic trucks, bringing the total electric fleet to ten vehicles.
New Depot Designed for Electric Fleet
To support the deployment, AWS has established a new operating facility in Stuttgart-Wangen featuring dedicated charging infrastructure for heavy-duty electric vehicles.
The site includes nine ceiling-mounted truck charging units, additional charging stations for passenger vehicles and two DC fast chargers.
The depot also incorporates a large rooftop photovoltaic installation, which Daimler Truck said is among the largest solar power systems installed on a municipal building in Stuttgart.
Supporting Waste Collection Operations
Alongside the ten battery-electric vehicles, AWS has also acquired ten diesel-powered Mercedes-Benz Econic refuse trucks.
The organisation currently operates approximately 120 refuse collection vehicles within a total fleet of around 1,100 vehicles serving the city.
According to AWS, the electric refuse trucks have demonstrated suitable performance despite Stuttgart’s hilly terrain.
Managing Director Markus Töpfer said:
“The electric refuse collection vehicles represent a major leap forward for Stuttgart. Despite the city’s challenging basin topography, the eEconic trucks have proven their performance.”
“They support a climate-friendly, future-oriented waste management system while at the same time improving working conditions for our employees.”
“Their quiet operation makes communication in the cab easier and reduces the physical strain of daily work.”
The deployment forms part of Stuttgart’s broader efforts to introduce lower-emission municipal vehicles while expanding the infrastructure needed to support electric commercial fleets.