Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks and Germany-headquartered specialized vehicle manufacturer ROHR Spezialfahrzeuge have partnered to produce the Mercedes-Benz eEconic helicopter refueling tanker, which has been deployed by Airbus Helicopters in Donauwörth, Germany.
The 16,500-liter-capacity tank body, manufactured by ROHR Spezialfahrzeuge, was integrated with the base vehicle from Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks. The 11-meter-long base vehicle can easily maneuver between ground personnel, other vehicles, landing helicopters, and the rotating blades of helicopters that are starting up.
Airbus Helicopters’ initial experience indicates that the vehicle can operate for about a week without charging. It features an electric axle with an integrated drive unit and two electric motors that generate a continuous output of 330 kW.
“The battery packs of the eEconic can be charged at a power output of up to 160 kW. Since the pump in the tank body also draws on the vehicle batteries, a single charging process ensures the energy supply for both driving and refueling. Electrical energy can also be recovered through recuperation, which increases the operating period of the refueling vehicle with no intermediate charging,” says Daimler Truck.
