REMONDIS trials Mercedes-Benz eEconic electric rubbish truck in Brisbane

First eEconic trial on Australian roads

REMONDIS Australia, in partnership with Mercedes-Benz Trucks, put an eEconic 6x2 battery-electric waste collection truck through commercial collection trials in Brisbane during August 2026, with the companies announcing the program on 28 September 2026. The release from REMONDIS Australia claims the operator was the first to trial eEconic technology on Australian roads. ¹²

Trade coverage followed the announcement: Inside Waste reported the Brisbane trial tested the zero-exhaust-emission truck in a range of operating conditions, and Prime Mover Magazine also carried the story, crediting REMONDIS's image and announcement material. ³

REMONDIS Australia CEO and Managing Director Björn Becker said in the announcement that the company's long relationships with Mercedes-Benz, both German brands, were behind the opportunity, and that REMONDIS had used Mercedes-Benz trucks globally, including in Australia, for many years. ¹²

The trial's outcome and any subsequent fleet order have not been announced. The release states only that the next steps are sharing and analysing information with Mercedes-Benz and other participants, including Superior Pak, which oversaw the body design. ¹²

What the eEconic is and how it drives

The eEconic uses lithium-ion batteries powering electric motors in the drive axle. The e-axle design eliminates the traditional driveshaft, resulting in zero exhaust emissions and near-silent operation, according to the announcement. Energy recovery braking is fitted to increase efficiency and journey longevity, which the companies describe as suited to stop-and-go urban collection work. ¹²

According to the REMONDIS announcement, the trial truck has 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 running. It uses three battery packs with 300kWh of usable capacity, rechargeable in as little as 2.5 hours on a 120kW charger, typically at fleet owner depots. These are manufacturer-stated figures and no independent Australian road-test figures are provided in the announcement. ¹²

Safety equipment listed in the release includes an Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS), panoramic windows, and advanced mirrors and cameras to aid driver visibility. A low two-step entry point is designed to reduce the repetitive climbs drivers make to high-set seats in conventional trucks. ¹²

The eEconic evolves from the diesel-powered Econic, which Mercedes-Benz developed nearly 30 years ago as a purpose-built, city-friendly waste vehicle. EConic trucks have been used across Europe in recent years, per the announcement. ¹²

Built and bodied for Australian conditions

REMONDIS says the trial vehicle was designed and built to comply with Australian truck mass and dimension requirements. Technical Executive General Manager Conor Flynn described it as a bespoke model fit for Australian climates and terrain, with Brisbane chosen for its diverse operational landscape. Specific engineering changes for heat or terrain are not detailed in the release. ¹²

The body was overseen by Superior Pak, which Flynn named as a participant in the next-stage information sharing and analysis with Mercedes-Benz and other partners. No technical specification for the body itself is given. ¹²

Mercedes-Benz Trucks Australia Pacific Sales and Marketing Vice President Andrew Assimo said in the announcement that the eEconic is suited to daily waste and recycling collection, and that Mercedes-Benz will work closely with REMONDIS with a view to the trucks succeeding in Australia. This is a manufacturer statement of intent, not a confirmation of Australian sales or launch timing. ¹²

Fleet scale and decarbonisation context

REMONDIS operates around 600 waste collection trucks across Australia. Becker said in the announcement that there is significant scope and appetite to cut emissions more broadly, through electric, hydrogen or hybrid technology, and that the company is working with multiple truck suppliers and stakeholders. He did not commit to any eEconic order. ¹²

The eEconic trial builds on other electric truck trials REMONDIS has undertaken in Australia and on the introduction of a zero-emission hydrogen-powered residential collection truck to its Illawarra operations in New South Wales in 2023, which the company describes as globally significant. ¹²

REMONDIS Australia, operating since 1982 with around 1,200 employees and more than 24,000 customers nationally, is part of the REMONDIS Group, which lists around 1,500 business locations in more than 30 countries and a turnover of €13.4 billion in 2025. ¹

Related eEconic development in Europe

Separately, the eEconic platform is the base for the reECONIC concept vehicle developed by Mercedes-Benz Trucks, TSR Group, FAUN Umwelttechnik and around 30 partners, which premiered at the IFAT trade fair in Munich. That battery-electric collection vehicle is partly built from recycled materials and carries the FAUN reNew VARIOPRESS body. REMONDIS's own publication states the reECONIC is scheduled to undergo real-world testing at REMONDIS in the second half of 2026, with results expected to inform further circular vehicle development. TÜV SÜD certified the project's materials methodology, which found around 80 percent of the main material groups in the series eEconic could theoretically be replaced with recycled or bio-based materials. ⁴

The reECONIC is a European concept and development project; it is not the vehicle trialled in Brisbane, and no Australian availability for either vehicle beyond the current trial has been announced. ⁴¹