MAN has handed over the first eTruck to the Duvenbeck Group. The Ultra Low Liner eTGX tractor unit, specially developed for the loading volume requirements of automotive logistics, is set to work on Volkswagen plant logistics. In accordance with the letter of intent (LOI) signed by both parties, Duvenbeck intends to put up to 120 units of the MAN eTGX into service by 2026. Duvenbeck will deploy the MAN eTruck in various areas of the Rhine-Ruhr and BeNeLux freight forwarding region as part of VW’s plant logistics.
“With the Ultra Low Liner eTruck, MAN has developed a solution that is perfectly tailored to the requirements of the automotive industry. No other series-produced electric semitrailer tractor can pull trailers with an interior height of three meters. This makes it the ideal choice for transports with high volume requirements,” explains Friedrich Baumann, Chief Sales & Customer Solutions Officer at MAN Truck & Bus. “We are delighted to have two strong partners at our side, Duvenbeck and Volkswagen, to bring this innovation to the road.”
Keep it in House
Duvenbeck will be using the MAN eTruck to supply Volkswagen production in future. It makes sense, since VW ultimately owns MAN, that the company expects their products to be used for their own operations.
Simon Motter, Head of Volkswagen Group Logistics, underlines the importance of the project: “Our partner Duvenbeck is taking a bold step forward: MAN eTrucks are being used for the first time at the Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg. This means that the technology’s suitability for everyday use and cost-effectiveness can now be proven. In the long term, the use of electric trucks is the most important lever for reducing CO2 emissions in road transportation. Where the strategically prioritised use of rail with green electricity is not possible, for example due to a lack of rail connections, BEV trucks with green electricity are favoured. In the cross-modal concept, they are used according to their strengths: Rail on long-distance routes, emission-friendly trucks on pre-carriage and onward carriage as well as on short and medium-distance routes.
Technological Innovation is Key
The Ultra Low Liner eTruck MAN eTGX is a pioneer in its class: with a semitrailer height of just 950 mm, a very short wheelbase of 3.75 meters and yet maximum battery capacity, it offers a range of around 500 kilometers. This makes it perfect for use in automotive logistics, where maximum load volume up to three meters in interior height is more important than high load weights. Thanks to its modular battery concept with a choice of four, five or six battery packs and power levels of 449 and 544 hp, it can be optimally adapted to any transport task. In addition to the standard CCS charging technology (up to 375 kW), it can also be ordered with the new MCS standard with up to one megawatt charging power, which enables even faster intermediate charging during the driver’s break from driving.
TIP Group: Contract Hire Partner
The MAN eTGX is being deployed at Duvenbeck by the TIP Group, one of the leading manufacturer-independent commercial vehicle rental companies and service providers for the transport and logistics industry. By providing the MAN eTruck, TIP enables companies like Duvenbeck to react flexibly and quickly to the growing demands of sustainable logistics.
“Our aim is to equip our customers with modern, environmentally friendly vehicles and to support them on their way to greater sustainability,” explains Oliver Bange, Vice President Central Europe Region of the TIP Group.