---
title: "Mercedes-Benz Urban eTruck, World’s First Electric Semi, on Roads Soon"
description: "In a pilot program of sorts, Mercedes will allow 20 drivers to test the new electric-only semi-truck for a year, with full production expected by 2020."
date: "2017-02-20"
modified: "2017-02-20"
authors:
  - name: "Josh Condon"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/josh-condon"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/tech/7762/mercedes-benz-urban-etruck-worlds-first-electric-semi-on-roads-soon"
categories:
  - "Car Tech"
  - "Electric Vehicles"
  - "Mercedes-Benz News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Trucks"
tags:
  - "Daimler"
  - "Electric Vehicle"
  - "Mercedes-Benz"
  - "Semi Truck"
---

# Mercedes-Benz Urban eTruck, World’s First Electric Semi, on Roads Soon

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/02/17c92-01-2-e1487609630256.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com\</em\>*

Mercedes-Benz's Urban eTruck, originally unveiled as a concept in 2016, will soon make the leap to reality—at least on a small scale.

The world's first all-electric heavy-duty truck will roll onto highways this year, allotted to 20 potential customers still in discussions with the brand. Daimler's first-to-market example of EV hauling capabilities will have a range of up to 120 miles and a payload of 12.8 tons; the truck will also have "a permitted 18-ton or 25-ton gross vehicle weight," [according to Autoblog](<https://www.autoblog.com/2017/02/20/mercedes-benz-urban-electric-truck-real-world-test/#slide-4449363>), and a choice of refrigerated or dry-box body, or as a platform vehicle.

![message-editor%2F1487609840994-17c92-02-2.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1487609840994-17c92-02-2.jpg>)
*The Mercedes-Benz Urban eTruck, *Daimler AG**

## A Limited Testing Program With Full Mercedes Support

The Urban eTruck is being offered on the bases of a limited, 12-month test period. Potential customers, which are operators in the logistics, disposal, and food industries, according to Stefan Buchner of Mercedes-Benz Trucks, will be supported by M-B's road testing department.

Full production of the Urban eTruck is planned for 2020. The vehicle represents a larger push by Mercedes-Benz parent company [Daimler](<https://www.daimler.com/en/>) into the electrified work space, with the brand's Fuso eCanter light-duty electric truck being made available to 150 customers across the U.S., Europe, and Japan.

## Author
Josh is a former editor at *Details*, *Road & Track*, and *MSN Autos*, and has contributed about a variety of topics to publications including *The New York Times*, *Men’s Journal*, *Automobile* and *Men’s Fitness*.

### Author social links