 Goodbye combustion engine? (3)
kfz-tech.de/Ye251
That was just a limited selection. What should the commercial vehicle and agricultural sectors say about this? Although the former are already surprisingly advanced, something the public doesn't really notice.
There is, and above all, there was, a lot to gain. Until all subsidies were eliminated, every freight company that purchased an electric truck received 80 percent of the difference compared to diesel, however that
was actually calculated.
The manufacturers couldn't deliver as quickly as the orders were placed. This is still evident in some vehicles today, as many things remained rudimentary, which they hoped could be corrected via over-the-air
updates, a bit of a homebrew.
Only purely German manufacturers such as Mercedes and MAN held back on delivering heavy semi-trailer trucks and instead carried out test drives. One must also distinguish between very modern and more
conservative approaches.
Most retain more or less of their existing drivetrain. For example, MAN not only retains the rear axle, drive shaft, and transmission, but also the number of gears. Others, such as Iveco, use an engine with over 1,000 hp and
no longer need any gears at all.
Mercedes also has a similar electric axle, although it still has four gears, and of course, it shifts automatically. The advantage of the electric axle: The battery packs not only fit on the outside of the chassis, but can also be
installed inside.
There, they will likely move noticeably forward. This is also necessary for reasons of weight distribution. The aim is to load the front axle and unload the rear axle so that it can carry more load and the distribution on the
trailer doesn't have to be so complicated.
Yes, purely electric operation of heavy trucks isn't easy, but it's possible with a sufficiently large battery and the appropriate charging capacity. After all, plenty of car chargers already offer up to 350 kW, which can then be
shared with trucks.
At the same time, new sections of loading parcs are constantly being built just for trucks, preferably so that they don't have to unhitch. However, synchronization with legally required rest periods still leaves something to be
desired. But we were certainly surprised by how far progress has been made until 2024.
Yes, do you seriously believe this trend can be reversed? Not really, is it? Millions of investments simply written off with a look of apology? Please note: We've already gone way too far, but most people just don't realize it.
Consider the savings potential in an industry where every cent counts, where empty runs are avoided at all costs, and where even lower-paying trips are worthwhile if necessary. The elimination of truck tolls alone, at least
until 2026, represents a huge cost saving.
It's astonishing that the surcharges for electric trucks fell, just like those for electric cars, when subsidies suddenly disappeared. And the charging costs also fall, at least if you charge at your home haulage company. And
even more so if they generate their own electricity.
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