The Nagel-Group started its first extensive on-road test of a fully electric 40-ton semi-trailer truck under real conditions. The experiment explores the technical possibilities of an electric tractor unit in combination with an electric semi-trailer in collaboration with the companies innocent drinks, Designwerk Products AG, THT Heetkamp and Fahrzeugwerk Bernard Krone.
The truck is used within the context of a shuttle service. The electric truck commutes between the production site in Stockach, Baden-Württemberg and the Kraftverkehr Nagel branch in Deißlingen several times a day to transport innocent drink’s apple juice. The one-way distance is around 60 kilometres and requires up to two hours of active cooling.
Arthur Ebel, Supervisor Fleet Management at the Nagel-Group said: “The unique feature of our test is that we are relying only on electric power for the first time. The electric tractor unit hauls a refrigerated semi-trailer, which is also electrically powered. This way, we can execute large transport operations without local CO2 emissions for the first time.”
The tractor unit used is the Futuricum Semi 40E made by the Swiss company Designwerk Products AG. The electric truck has four engines, a total power of 680 HP and a range of up to 380 km. The vehicle has already been deployed successfully in distribution, recycling and construction logistics.
Fabian Wyssmann, Sales and Marketing Manager at Designwerk Products AG stated: “With this test, we aim to prove that our tractor unit can also meet the high demands of refrigerated logistics”.
Two batteries are the centrepiece of the electric vehicle, each with a capacity of 170 kWh. The charging time differs depending on the charging station. “It takes the Futuricum just over two hours to recharge,” said Wyssmann.
The Futuricum is used in combination with the fully electric refrigerated semi-trailer of the company Krone, which is equipped with the technology of the Dutch company THT Heetkamp. In addition to powerful batteries, it utilises energy recovery using the axle.
Twan Heetkamp, Director of THT Heetkamp said: “Braking produces an awful lot of energy. Using our recuperation technology, we can recover some of it and recharge the batteries during transport.”
Ingo Geerdes, Managing Director Key Accounts at Krone said: “A special feature of the trailer is that the batteries have shifted the weight more to the middle of the trailer. This has the advantage of an optimized weight distribution even with partial loads.”
The electric semi-trailer is still in the trial stage and will undergo a total of three months of testing by the Nagel-Group. For instance, it will also be employed together with a conventional truck in the Ruhr area. Carsten Taucke, CEO of the Nagel-Group explained: “In the coming weeks, we will carry out a thorough evaluation of energy consumption, range, as well as driving characteristics, and incorporate the results into our considerations for the further modernisation of our fleet. Moreover, we will use the test data to evaluate the feasibility and the economics of such fully electric transports.”
Source: Nagel-Group
