That's probably the hardest test for the electric drive, the heavy truck. Not yet for long-distance traffic, but at least real existant and even in a select customer's hand. With appropriate training 200 km should be possible. To explain the dimensions: The eActros has 240 kWh on board.

We assume that only 80 really usable percentages remain. Divided by 2 remain 96 kWh for 100 km. The purely electric car comes out in the most parsimonious case with 12 kWh. That's 8 times as much for the truck. How can that be explained?

If you compare passenger cars and trucks, there might be a factor of 6 when driving economically. One more factor is due to the much more complex systems, e.g. power steering, brake system and air suspension. Presumably you can not offer a cab today without air conditioning and certainly not without heating. The missing factor will be due to the potentially harsher reality.

The batteries are housing in boxes, e.g. also because of the accident safety at least once again are so heavy, a total of 2.2 tons. The two electric motors, each with 125 kW and 485 Nm, are mounted close to the rear wheel hubs. With almost 23-fold reduction, this results in 11,000 Nm each, comparable to a medium-sized truck. The truck diesel engine also has comparable high torque from low rews on.

Although the drive was completely removed, the ladder frame continued to be used. It contains 'only' three batteries, the others are built in laterally and below. Of course, it would be better to have a very wide chassis that could hold all the batteries and protect them. With the rear axle and the liquid-cooled engines the engineers could benefit from the already more advanced technology in buses.

2018 a total of 10 vehicles will be produced as two-axle vehicles with 18 and three-axle vehicles with 25 tonnes. They are lent to two customers after each others in two years. The trucks can only be charged there. Because of the enormous battery capacity special DC charging stations are needed.

Then loading times between 2 and 10 to 12 hours are possible. An electrically powered truck is quieter only at low speeds. The rolling noise penetrates more strongly. If you drive over the highway more often with the convertible open, you will be able to confirm the enormous tire noise. 02/18