Daimler Truck, logistics provider DHL Group and commercial vehicle rental provider hylane GmbH signed a cooperation agreement in the field of fully electric trucks. The partnership stipulates that DHL will obtain 30 electric trucks of the type Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 through hylane’s “Transport as a Service model.”

This means DHL will not purchase the vehicles; instead, hylane will bill DHL based on the actual kilometers driven. The electric trucks are set to be used in the Post & Parcel Germany division for transport between parcel centers. The trucks are expected to be delivered by the end of the second quarter of 2026. For hylane, the addition of 30 eActros 600 trucks marks a targeted expansion of its existing portfolio, which has so far focused on fuel cell electric trucks. For the three partners, this also represents the largest contract for electric trucks in Germany this year.

The Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 is the new flagship among the battery-electric trucks from Mercedes-Benz Trucks and targets the long-distance segment, which is responsible for two-thirds of all CO₂ emissions from heavy road freight transport in Europe. The electric truck has been delivered to customers since December 2024. By recharging during mandatory breaks, distances of more than 1,000 kilometers per day are possible.

The eActros 600 is equipped with batteries based on durable lithium iron phosphate cell technology (LFP) and features a newly developed electric drive axle.

The electric trucks that DHL will acquire as part of the partnership with hylane and Daimler Truck are still part of the already expired KsNI funding program (Climate-Friendly Commercial Vehicles and Infrastructure) of the federal government. This program aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the use of alternative drives and fuels in road freight transport.

The 30 Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 trucks will complement DHL’s sustainable fleet, which already includes 16 electric trucks and 450 CNG trucks in transport, as well as 32,400 electric vans for last-mile delivery. Additionally, there is charging infrastructure with 10 CNG fueling stations and 41,000 electric charging points. DHL aims to reduce all emissions to net zero by 2050, with the goal of increasing the share of vehicles in the transport sector using alternative fuels or drives to about 30% by 2030.