REMONDIS puts Mercedes-Benz eEconic electric waste truck to work in Brisbane trial

First Australian road trial for the eEconic

REMONDIS Australia trialled the Mercedes-Benz eEconic 6x2 battery-electric truck on commercial waste collection duties in Brisbane during August 2026, describing the program as a further step in its fleet decarbonisation, according to a company announcement issued on 28 September 2026. The claim that the trial tested the zero-exhaust-emission truck across a range of operating conditions was also reported by Inside Waste, with Prime Mover Magazine covering the same announcement. ¹²

The announcement positions the trial as an Australian use case for battery-electric heavy vehicles rather than a purchase commitment; it does not establish that REMONDIS will buy the eEconic or roll the model out across its fleet. The Brisbane location was chosen, according to REMONDIS Australia Technical Executive General Manager Conor Flynn, because of its "diverse operational landscape". ¹

Brisbane is a familiar market for the company: REMONDIS Australia operates multiple Queensland facilities including its Northgate, Rocklea and Richlands sites, and expanded its Brisbane headquarters with specialised medical waste processing in September 2026, according to the company's own website. ⁴

The e-axle and what the truck offers

According to REMONDIS's announcement, the eEconic uses lithium-ion batteries powering electric motors in the drive axle — an "e-axle" design that eliminates the traditional driveshaft. The truck also features energy-recovery braking, which the company says increases efficiency and journey longevity and suits stop-and-go urban waste collection. ¹

The specifications cited in the announcement give the eEconic drive output of up to 400 kilowatts, a top speed of up to 100km/h and a range of up to 150 kilometres with compaction in operation. Three battery packs provide 300kWh of usable capacity, rechargeable in as little as 2.5 hours using a 120kW charger, typically at fleet-owner depots. These figures come from the REMONDIS announcement rather than an independent road test. ¹

The trial truck was "tailor-made for Australian conditions", Flynn said, adding that considerable effort and cooperation went into delivering a bespoke model suited to Australian climates and terrain. The Australian trial model was designed and built to comply with local truck mass and dimension requirements, and Superior Pak oversaw the body design. ¹

Safety and driver-focused design

The eEconic carries a suite of safety features described in the announcement, including an Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS), panoramic windows and advanced mirrors and cameras to aid driver visibility. REMONDIS says the design offers new levels of precaution for pedestrians and other drivers. ¹

A low two-step entry point is also part of the package, which the announcement says improves driver safety by avoiding the repetitive climbs to and from the high-seated position typical of many conventional trucks — a relevant detail for waste collection work involving frequent entry and exit. ¹

A long European record, now tested locally

The eEconic has been used across Europe in recent years, according to the REMONDIS announcement. Mercedes-Benz Trucks Australia Pacific Sales and Marketing Vice President Andrew Assimo said "the track record of these trucks speaks for itself in Europe", and that the company would work closely with REMONDIS "with a view to them succeeding in Australia". ¹

The model has deeper roots than the electric version alone: the eEconic evolves from the diesel-powered Econic, which Mercedes-Benz developed nearly 30 years ago as a custom-made, city-friendly waste vehicle, according to the announcement. ¹

The eEconic platform is also the basis for ongoing European development work. A concept vehicle called the reECONIC, built by Mercedes-Benz Trucks with FAUN Umwelttechnik, TSR Group and other partners and based on the eEconic, uses a FAUN reNew VARIOPRESS body partially made from recycled materials; REMONDIS's own publication reports it is scheduled to undergo extensive real-world testing at REMONDIS in the second half of 2026. ³

Part of a broader decarbonisation program

REMONDIS Australia CEO and Managing Director Björn Becker framed the trial as a natural progression given the company's long relationship with Mercedes-Benz here and globally, and noted the German family connections between REMONDIS, its parent company RETHMANN and Mercedes-Benz. ¹

"Given that we operate 600 waste collection trucks across Australia, there's significant scope and appetite for us to cut emissions more broadly, be it through electric, hydrogen or hybrid technology," Becker said in the announcement. "We're working with multiple truck suppliers and other stakeholders to progress that journey." ¹

The eEconic trial builds on other electric truck trials REMONDIS has undertaken in Australia, and on the company's introduction of a zero-emission, hydrogen-powered residential collection truck to its Illawarra operations in New South Wales in 2023 — an introduction the company describes as globally significant. The next step for the Brisbane trial, according to Flynn, is sharing and analysing information with Mercedes-Benz and other participants, including Superior Pak. ¹