Mercedes-Benz Trucks has launched a joint project with German truck driver and content creator Tobias Wagner to complete what the company says could become the first circumnavigation of the globe using a fully battery-electric truck.
The expedition will use the all-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 and is scheduled to begin in autumn 2026. According to the company, the journey will span more than 45,000 kilometres across over 35 countries and is expected to take roughly one year to complete.
Mercedes-Benz Trucks said the route would require approximately 80 charging stops during the expedition.
“According to current knowledge, this would be the first circumnavigation of the globe completed with a purely battery-electric truck,” the company said.
The manufacturer will provide Wagner with a specially modified 4×2 version of the eActros 600 equipped with a 621-kWh battery pack.
The standard production version of the eActros 600 offers an estimated driving range of around 500 kilometres. Mercedes-Benz Trucks said the expedition vehicle has been made lighter than a conventional articulated truck, which could help extend its range beyond standard operating figures.
The vehicle was produced at the company’s Wörth manufacturing plant in Germany in April before undergoing further modifications for the journey.
According to Mercedes-Benz Trucks, the truck was fitted with additional expedition equipment including a spare wheel carrier with an integrated mobile charging unit, single tyres and extra front-mounted lighting systems.
The company also integrated a custom-built motorhome body developed by Bliss Mobil to serve as living quarters during the trip.
Christian Wilz, Chairman of the Management Board of Mercedes-Benz Trucks Germany, said the project is intended to demonstrate the current capabilities and limitations of battery-electric long-haul transport.
“Battery-electric long-haul transport is already a lived reality in many parts of Europe today,” Wilz said.
“Our customers demonstrate in daily operations that electric long-distance logistics works – provided the infrastructure is available,” he added. “Now we are excited to see what experiences Tobias will gather with the eActros 600 on his extraordinary global expedition.”
Wagner, who is widely known online under the name “Elektrotrucker,” has worked as a full-time truck driver for German logistics company Nanno Janssen Spedition GmbH for the past two years.
He said he has already driven battery-electric trucks from several manufacturers for around 200,000 kilometres in domestic and international long-haul operations.
“After countless tours through 22 countries, I know one thing for sure: electric trucks in long-distance transport work without any problems,” Wagner said.
“To convince even the last sceptics, I am following in the footsteps of Jules Verne – though I’m not travelling around the world in 80 days, but in 80 charging stations,” he added.
Mercedes-Benz Trucks said the expedition is designed less as a record attempt and more as a practical demonstration of how far modern electric long-haul trucks can realistically travel under real-world conditions.
The company said the journey will also help identify infrastructure gaps, operational challenges and public perceptions surrounding electric heavy-duty transport across different global regions.