Mercedes-Benz Trucks has delivered three eActros 400 electric tipper tractor units to German waste management company AVG Köln, marking the first deployment of factory-integrated mechanical power take-off (mPTO) technology across the manufacturer’s truck range.
The battery-electric vehicles will operate as part of the Battery-Electric Emission-Free Truck Logistics for Incinerator Bottom Ash (BELLA) project, transporting incinerator bottom ash within AVG Köln’s facility and to nearby processing sites.
Factory-Integrated mPTO Supports Tipping Operations
The second-generation eActros 400 trucks are equipped with Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ ProCabin cab and replace conventionally powered vehicles previously used in municipal waste operations.
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The factory-installed mechanical power take-off drives the hydraulic tipping system, eliminating the need for aftermarket conversion previously required to operate hydraulic equipment on electric trucks.
Erkes Nutzfahrzeuge will complete the hydraulic installation, while the vehicles will be paired with steel half-round tipping trailers supplied by Schwarzmüller.
Battery System and Charging Infrastructure
Each truck is equipped with two lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery packs, each providing a nominal capacity of 207 kWh, for a combined installed capacity of 414 kWh.
To support fleet operations, AVG Köln is constructing a charging hub covering approximately 3,000 square meters.
The facility will include nine charging stations for commercial vehicles and will be supplied with electricity generated directly from the company’s waste-to-energy plant.
Expanding Electric Trucks Into Specialized Applications
Mercedes-Benz Trucks said integrating working-equipment interfaces such as mechanical power take-off into factory production expands the range of applications suitable for battery-electric trucks.
Hydraulic power take-off systems are commonly required for vocational vehicles used in sectors including waste management and construction, where specialized equipment relies on hydraulic operation.
The company said factory integration reduces installation complexity for operators by incorporating the system during vehicle production rather than through third-party modifications.
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