Daimler Truck Australia Pacific has reached a major milestone in its zero-emissions strategy with the first Australian-assembled Mercedes-Benz eEconic fitted with a Bucher rear-loader body — a fully operational electric waste truck now ready for real-world service.
The vehicle made its debut at the Fleet EV Expo for Local Government, arriving so freshly completed that the delivery paperwork was still taped to the windscreen.
“We’ve literally picked it up from the bodybuilder (Bucher) and brought it straight here for this conference,” said Romesh Rodrigo, Head of Regulatory Affairs and Emerging Mobility Sales at Daimler Truck Australia Pacific.
Not a Concept — A Real-World Electric Waste Truck
For years, Daimler has displayed the low-entry eEconic cab at local shows, but without a waste body. Rodrigo said this new build marks the shift from prototype discussions to fleet-ready hardware.
“I’d probably go beyond the fact that it’s a concept,” he said. “I think this is really a reality. When you look at this vehicle… a six-by-two truck set up specifically for waste collection… configured as a rear loader… this is exactly where it’s aimed at.”
The eEconic’s signature deep windscreen also remains a standout feature for urban waste operations.
“That vision… is really unrivalled for inner-city operation,” Rodrigo added.
A Breakthrough in Body Integration
The biggest step forward was aligning a traditional hydraulic waste body with an electric powertrain — something many manufacturers globally have struggled to deliver.
“This is the first time it’s had the body on it,” Rodrigo explained. “A lot of that came down to interfacing a semi-traditional body with the electric powertrain… Bucher have done a great job… working with our factory-fitted PTO.”
He stressed that Bucher was the first builder to complete an Australian electric rear-loader fit, but not the only partner.
“We’re not beholden to any one bodybuilder… our first one has been with Bucher. We’re also building another one as we speak with Superior Pak.”
Rodrigo said the bodybuilding industry is coming along “proactively and pragmatically” as they explore the transition to electrified refuse trucks.
Strong Interest From Major Waste Contractors
While local government operators remain highly engaged in decarbonising waste operations, Rodrigo said early demand is being driven by Australia’s largest waste contractors.
“Initially where we’re seeing a lot of interest is from the big contract providers,” he confirmed. “Cleanaway, Remondis, Veolia… they do have this push towards sustainability… and a lot of them are providing services for these LGAs.”
The first Bucher-bodied eEconic will now enter monitored testing with a national fleet customer.
“This truck will go to one of the large contract customers,” Rodrigo said. “We’ll monitor it… but keep in mind this technology is not new. We’ve been using these in Europe for many years.”
Rear Loader First — Side Loader Later
The side-loader market dominates kerbside collection in Australia, but Rodrigo said the complexity of electrifying dual-control side-loaders means Daimler is focusing on appropriate applications first.
“We like to be pragmatic,” he said. “Side loading presents its future challenges… and requires a dual-control setup… another level of complication into an already sophisticated vehicle.”
Rear-loader fleets — often operating in CBDs, laneways and commercial precincts — are the natural starting point.
“You don’t run side loaders in the city,” Rodrigo explained. “They’ll run a rear loader like this with a crew — and that’s what this vehicle is exactly set up to do.”
Design Features for Urban Safety and Productivity
The eEconic includes features specifically engineered for high-frequency stop-start waste work.
Rodrigo highlighted the left-side concertina door, a design that keeps the door within the vehicle’s footprint:
“It allows us to sneak up really close to obstacles… the door doesn’t open outside the perimeter… allows the crew to leave the vehicle safely,” he said.
He added that this feature is beneficial in airports due to high wind loads — another scenario where electric low-entry trucks are used overseas.
The truck also runs full air suspension front and rear, supporting low-entry ergonomics and frequent ingress/egress cycles.
A Turning Point for Electric Waste Fleets
The arrival of the Bucher-bodied eEconic positions Daimler Truck as a frontrunner in Australia’s electrified waste sector, providing a platform that is:
- Fully electric
- Fully bodied
- Ready for operational trials
- Supported by real-world experience in Europe
For councils and waste contractors working toward net-zero fleet strategies, it represents the clearest signal yet that heavy-duty waste electrification is no longer theoretical — it’s here, running, and on its way to collection routes.
