German fleets are pressing ahead with the introduction of electric trucks into their operations. It comes as no surprise that there is plenty of funding to achieve this goal. Even for the largest of operators, DB Schenker had their first ten MAN eTrucks funded by the ‘Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport’ as part of the directive on the promotion of light and heavy commercial vehicles. Whether any subsequent trucks are similarly supplied is not clear.

Ultra Semi Trailer Tractor Units

The company took delivery of the first ten MAN long-distance electric trucks directly from the MAN Truck & Bus plant in Munich to join its fleet. The MAN eTGX Ultra semitrailer tractors, which have been specially developed for high loading volume requirements and allow the use of corresponding mega trailers with an interior height of three metres, are now on the road.

These trailers have been used specifically in the automotive segment for years, but also in other areas with high loading space requirements. The high loading volume helps to make transport more environmentally friendly and, in combination with the all-electric MAN eTGX Ulra Low Liner, sustainably reduce CO2 emissions. DB Schenker and MAN have agreed in a Letter of Intent (LOI) 2023 that 100 of the electric lorries will be added to the fleet by 2026.

The Ultra Low Liner eTruck MAN eTGX is a pioneer with a semitrailer height of just 950 mm, a very short wheelbase of 3.75 metres and yet maximum battery capacity, it offers a range of around 500 kilometres. This makes it perfect for applications where maximum loading volume up to three metres interior height is crucial. 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 of charging power, which enables even faster intermediate charging during the driver’s break from driving.

MAN eTGX Lineup
The Ultra Low Liner eTruck MAN eTGX has a semi trailer height of just 950 mm, a very short wheelbase of 3.75 metres and yet maximum battery capacity

Additional Electric eTGL Trucks on Order

During the handover of the first MAN eTGX, the two companies also signed a further letter of intent for the delivery of 50 MAN eTGLs. The all-electric 12-tonne truck for urban freight transport can be ordered from April 2025 and is intended to supplement DB Schenker’s electric fleet in distribution logistics.

In addition to the MAN eTGX and eTGS for heavy-duty transport tasks, the MAN eTGL rounds off the MAN electric truck portfolio for light distribution transport. With a range of up to 235 kilometres, fast charging in around 30 minutes and a payload of up to 6,600 kilograms, depending on the body, it offers the ideal combination for quiet and locally CO2-free transport in urban goods logistics.

“We are very proud that the first ten MAN eTGX are now in daily logistics use for DB Schenker. The sustainable decarbonisation of freight transport is our common goal. The new MAN eTruck is not only locally CO2-free, but also fulfils the diverse requirements of our customers. Volume transport is one example of this. No other series-produced electric semitrailer tractor on the market offers such a short wheelbase with maximum battery capacity for trailers with an interior height of three metres. The fact that DB Schenker also wants to rely on MAN for electric distribution transport with the eTGL confirms that our eTruck portfolio offers the right solution for every transport sector,” explains Friedrich Baumann, Member of the Executive Board for Sales & Customer Solutions at MAN Truck & Bus.

Advice on Electric Changeover

Transport companies can also use MAN’s 360-degree eMobility Consulting when switching to electromobility: the advice on switching to electromobility includes customer-specific analyses of vehicle deployment and charging infrastructure requirements. MAN’s range of services also includes the provision of charging infrastructure itself through partnerships with charging infrastructure suppliers. In addition, as with conventionally powered trucks, service contracts and financing solutions specially tailored to electric mobility as well as numerous digital services are available for the use of the new electric lions. These include the MAN eReadyCheck, which customers can use to check how their delivery routes can be driven purely electrically, as well as the MAN Charge & Go charging service including charging card, which enables simple, consolidated charging planning and billing for international routes.