DHL and Scania: E-saddle tractor revolutionizes freight traffic!

DHL and Scania: E-saddle tractor revolutionizes freight traffic!

Ludwigsfelde, Deutschland - The transport industry is faced with a fundamental turn, which also comes to the fore sustainability aspects. A current example of this is the development of an e-saddle tractor by the companies Scania and DHL. This innovative vehicle has now been tested over 220,000 kilometers, with the average daily distances 250 kilometers. It is noteworthy that only 8 % of the routes required the battery to be reloaded by a fossil engine. This drive system is largely designed electrically, whereby a small additional combustion engine acts as a electricity generator to charge the battery. The first results of the one -year field test show that the technical solution is to be regarded as satisfactory and the economic advantages of electric vehicles are increasingly recognized by vehicle owners. According to Oekonews, every electrically driven kilometer is cheaper in the total cost calculation than one in fossil traffic.

The current developments at DHL show significant progress in the use of electric vehicles. DHL has been testing an electric truck in regular operation since February, which has covered about 22,000 kilometers on the route between Ludwigsfelde and Hamburg. The truck has a construction of 10.5 meters (without a trailer) and a total weight of 40 tons. It is powered by a 230 kW electric motor, which is supported by a 120 kW fuel-powered generator if necessary. This generator was only used in exceptional cases, and 91.9 percent of the time the truck drove purely electrically. This has led to saving around 16 tons of CO₂ emissions. Vision Mobility reports that these new electric vehicles can reduce CO₂ emissions of over 90 percent compared to conventional diesel trucks.

technical features and advantages of the new e-truck

The DHL electromobility concept is not limited to the current truck. The next version of the prototype is expected to receive a 520 kWh battery, which can be better controlled using improved software. While the top speed of the truck is limited to 89 km/h, the vehicle offers flexibility to pull a trailer with an additional transport volume, which enables a capacity of around 1,000 packages. The positive results of the 100-day test represent EREV technology (Electric Range Extended Vehicle) as a practical bridge technology for the electrification of heavy goods traffic.

However, the need for a broader market entry is shown. DHL therefore calls for adjustments in road toll legislation and the introduction of an emission -based vehicle class to further promote climate -friendly mobility. It is also mentioned that the use of renewable fuels for the generator could additionally improve the environmental balance. This is particularly important against the background that the transport sector is considered an important cause of CO₂ emissions, which exacerbates the effects on climate change, as Perren.Swiss emphasizes.

The role of electromobility in freight transport

The switch to electromobility in freight transport is crucial for the global climate goals. Electromobility offers numerous advantages, including reducing CO₂ emissions and lower operating costs, which can be up to 30 percent below that of diesel trucks. According to Perren, however, there are also challenges: the higher acquisition costs and the need for a suitable charging infrastructure remain central points that need to be solved. Nevertheless, the long -term benefits for companies are an incentive to consider the transition to electromobility.

Developments of DHL and Scania are an important step in the right direction and could serve as a model for other companies in the industry. The traffic transition in this way is a necessary process to make freight traffic more climate -friendly and to adapt the political framework accordingly.