You’d struggle to think of anything more useless than driving an articulated truck for 100 kilometres in reverse. However, that’s the name of the game for many world record attempts. Mercedes Trucks is behind the stunt to promote their electric eActros 600.
Unbelievably, there is already a holder of this record – an American driving a diesel truck 89 kilometres backwards in 2020.
Mercedes-Benz Trucks plans to set this new record on a closed-off track and then, after the record attempt, plans to reverse around 30 kilometres on public roads. The finishing line is at the Daimler Truck Global Parts Center in Halberstadt, in Saxony-Anhalt. The new location will officially open on July 10th. Starting this year, it will gradually take on worldwide deliveries of spare parts for Mercedes-Benz Trucks.
The driver and previous record holder is Marco Hellgrewe (50) from Werneuchen near Berlin, an officer in the German Armed Forces and a truck enthusiast – he set his original 64 kilometre record back in 2008.
Marco Hellgrewe, commented: “As a passionate truck driver, it is an honour for me to try to set this record again. A lot has happened in terms of technology since my first record-breaking drive – and to date no one in the world has taken this record with an electric truck. The eActros 600 represents the future of electric mobility in long-distance haulage and shows how manufacturers are successfully breaking new ground. Reversing for so many hours is a big challenge, but the test drives so far have gone very well. It’s a lot of fun and very pleasant to be on the road with the eActros 600. I would like to take this opportunity to already express my heartfelt thanks to Mercedes-Benz Trucks for all their support.”
Rainer Müller-Finkeldei, Head of Product Engineering Mercedes-Benz Trucks: “We are very pleased that Marco Hellgrewe first thought of Mercedes-Benz Trucks and our eActros 600 for his new record attempt. His idea of reversing in an all-electric vehicle now testifies to a pioneering spirit which we as a driving force behind the transformation can identify with. At the same time, the activity gives us the opportunity to attract greater attention to important future topics in the public domain.”
Müller-Finkeldei continues: “Like no other e-truck with the star at the front, our eActros 600 stands for the fact that the right electric vehicles are available. But more momentum is needed to create further purchase incentives for our customers and to drive forward the development of the charging infrastructure. As a manufacturer, we have always been one of the pioneers in road safety with our assistance systems. Our eActros 600 even exceeds legal requirements in some cases. In addition, the awareness of all road users must also be raised. The image of professional drivers in the public domain is close to our hearts because we build our vehicles for them. Especially in view of the growing shortage of drivers, it is essential that they also receive the appropriate recognition for their hard work for society. Reversing is a central part of their day-to-day work and what the drivers achieve in this respect is almost an art in itself.”
The Circuit
The stunt will take place at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben racetrack. With its 14 tight bends designed for cars, the circuit is extremely demanding – but nevertheless offers fewer unpredictable risks of having to stop and thus interrupt the record attempt than public roads. After a rest period, Hellgrewe then intends to take up the additional challenge of driving backwards on public roads under a police escort for an additional 30 kilometres to Halberstadt. In both parts, he is expected to be travelling mostly at speeds between 10 and 20 kilometres per hour.