The heavy gang – a real live wire

08/02/2021

Electrically powered trucks have indeed been on the road for a long time

Reducing carbon dioxide emissions in freight transport (decarbonisation) is considered to be one of the biggest challenges for the manufacturers of commercial vehicles. In addition to efforts attempting to further reduce CO2 emissions by means of appropriate exhaust gas purification systems, these companies are closely following the development of battery-electric powered trucks (BEV=Battery Electric Vehicles) that are suitable for short and medium-distance travel. As a kind of flanking measure, truck manufacturers are also relying on the fuel cell designed for FCEVs (fuel cell electric vehicles) so as to cover longer distances emission-free. The German Federal Government alone is funding 62 large-scale hydrogen projects in Germany by providing around eight billion euros. Here we have an overview for you.

Fully charged on the road

An e-truck (BEV) with a loaded box or trailer is too heavy, the range of the vehicles too short, the dependence on charging options too high. In fact, battery-electric powered trucks on a long haul and in international heavy goods traffic are difficult to imagine. However, as far as short-haul and medium-haul are concerned, such prejudices have long been regarded as antiquated. Today countless battery-electric trucks in various weight classes are already speeding up and down Germany's roads. With great success! According to the KBA (German Federal Motor Transport Authority), the number of registered trucks with battery-electric drive systems in Germany in 2020 was 32,210 – with an upward trend.

Manufacturers, models, series startups

One example of a battery-electric truck is the eActros from Daimler. The Swabian truck manufacturer proved with extensive tests (which were also performed in winter) that, technically, covering a range of over 200 kilometres without having to recharge is not a problem, depending, of course, on the topography of the terrain and the payload involved. Since July 2019, an eActros, along with other vehicles, has been on the road serving customers and has already covered more than 50,000 kilometres. Since then, the cargo weight of initially around four tons has continued to grow, as has the range, thanks to rapid developments in the battery sector. The electric truck has proven itself exceptionally well in distribution operations and on short-haul routes. According to Daimler Trucks, the start of the eActros series production is planned for 2021. The performance values are likewise set to continue rising.

 

Daimler Trucks has also put electric trucks from the Group's Freightliner brand on the road for customer tests in North America. The so-called Customer Experience (CX) test fleet of Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) consists of six heavy-duty Freightliner eCascadia and two medium-duty Freightliner eM2 106. The market launch of the two trucks Freightliner eCascadia and eM2 is reportedly planned for the end of 2021.

 

Other truck manufacturers are also putting their money on the battery-electric drive and are successfully mapping out defined application scenarios. For example, Scania recently introduced the 25L BEV, which is available in various performance classes. This vehicle, too, is designed for local distribution transport. The advantage: noise emissions are limited to tyre-rolling noise. This means that night-time deliveries and driving through city centres and residential areas are also possible at this time. The Group's sister company MAN has been producing a small series with the eTGM since November 2019, which has been available for order since 2020. The vehicle is intended for inner-city delivery traffic. As regards the body, it can be configured as a refrigerated vehicle, with a swap body or beverage body.

 

For this purpose, the eTGM offers a permissible total weight of 26 tons, the unladen weight is around 10,750 kg and a dry box weighs between 2,500 and 3,000kg. With such a body, the payload is about 12.5 tons. The eTGM is powered by an electric motor with 264 kW (360 hp) output, which provides a maximum torque of 3,100 Nm, MAN says. Under the TRATON umbrella, MAN cooperates with Scania on topics such as development, purchasing and assembly.

Volvo recently announced the launch of the three new electric models known as FH, FM and FMX Electric. According to the company, this means that it has the most extensive range of battery-electric vehicles, with its six medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks. Incidentally, Volvo has just developed an acoustic warning system for e-trucks. The background: from July 1, 2021, all new electric vehicles in the EU will have to emit a specific sound level (AVAS, Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System) when travelling at a speed of less than 20 km/h. You can listen to the sounds at www.krafthand-truck.de.

 

The "D Wide Z.E." from Renault Trucks has already been available since 2019 and has two electric motors and a total output of 370 kW. The range is planned to reach up to 200 kilometres. The vehicle can hit the road in a 26-ton version with the appropriate body that is required, for example for inner-city waste disposal.

 

From the second quarter of 2021, the Dutch truck manufacturer DAF will deliver, together with the CF Fan electric, the CF FT Electric with a permissible gross vehicle weight (GCW) rating of up to 37 tons. The vehicle has also been constantly further developed and today manages a range of 200-220 kilometres. According to DAF, a relatively small and lightweight lithium-ion battery with 315 kWh effective capacity powers the e-unit in this latest generation. The Peterbilt brand, which also belongs to the parent company Paccar, likewise has battery-electric trucks on the market with the 220 EV and the 579 EV models.

New brands, new players

Completely new manufacturers have also dedicated themselves to the development of battery-electric trucks and have already put such vehicles on the road. For example, according to the Swedish manufacturer, the Volta Zero is the world's first fully electric 16-ton commercial vehicle designed specifically for inner-city goods transport (the last mile). The Zero achieves a purely electric range of 150 to 200 kilometres.

 

The Nikola Tre, based on the Iveco S-Way, is a cooperative development of the joint venture between Iveco and the US startup Nikola Motors. The first prototypes (BEV) are already being manufactured and tested in Ulm/Germany. Delivery of the first vehicles is planned for 2021. With the Nikola Two, it is intended to bring out a fuel cell vehicle, while the Nikola Tre FCEV can be seen as the hybrid variant.

 

With the BEV Futuricum Logistics 18E, from the company Designwerk Products AG, yet another truck with fuel cell technology enters the race. In Switzerland, the first vehicles are already being used by the delivery company DPD. And Tesla had already presented the all-electric heavy-duty tractor "Semi" at the end of November 2017. The delivery of the first vehicles, which was initially planned for 2019, has been delayed because of the carrying out of further developments. The Semi is to be built at the new Giga Factory in Austin, Texas.

The range advantage: the fuel cell

Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) achieve higher ranges of around 1,000 kilometres and are also already on the road and taking part in test operations, too. Examples of these are the Mercedes-Benz GenH2 (liquid hydrogen), the Hyundai XCient, the Peterbilt 579 EV or the HyMax 450 from Hyzon based on a DAF chassis. Daimler Trucks, for example, is working with Volvo under the auspices of the Cellcentric fuel cell joint venture in efforts to bring about series production, and Paccar with Toyota.

Picture: Trucks fill up with electricity - electromobility in freight transport

An e-truck fills up with electricity.

In contrast to the charging infrastructure for BEVs, which has already reached a certain level of development, the "filling station network" for hydrogen is still very limited, especially in terms of international coverage. But here, too, the signs of the times have been recognised.

 

Even companies supposedly from outside this specific field, such as the tyre manufacturer Michelin, are researching fuel cells. As far back as 2019, the company invested 140 million euros in the Symbio joint venture together with automotive supplier Faurecia. Behind the name is a joint venture that in 2021 wants to start building the largest factory for the production of hydrogen fuel cell systems in Europe in Saint-Fons near Lyon – and this is just one example. So a lot is happening to promote decarbonisation in freight transport.

 

And incidentally: driving an e-truck is really fun. "Our drivers’ feedback always mentions a very calm and relaxed driving style. There is no gear-change disruption and the feeling of quiet gliding reduces stress levels," reports Rainer Schmitt, managing partner at Logistik Schmitt in Bietigheim, Swabia/Germany. The eActros has been going through pilot operations there since 2019.

Georg Blenk, Krafthand Medien