MAN offers electric refrigerated logistics from twelve to 42 tonnes
Electric trucks can take on more and more tasks and, in most cases, are now on a par with conventional diesel trucks. MAN is demonstrating this at the French transport trade fair Solutrans, where the German manufacturer is showcasing a new version of its eTGL 12-tonne chassis – as a refrigerated box body variant.
“This means that the 12-tonne truck now also enables the locally emission-free and very quiet distribution transport of temperature-sensitive goods, such as foodstuffs. A high-voltage interface enables the refrigeration unit to be supplied directly from the vehicle electrical network – efficiently and weight-optimised,” MAN announced at the world premiere of the new version.
The eTGL is based on the well-known diesel model with a gross vehicle weight of twelve tonnes. Depending on the body, the model is between 6.20 and 7.30 metres long, with a wheelbase of 4.50 metres. The manufacturer specifies the payload as up to 6.6 tonnes. To compare, the E-Tech D14 from Renault Trucks, also presented at Solutrans, offers a payload of 6.7 tonnes, but as a 14-tonne vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of two tonnes more.
The eTGL electric drive uses the same modular components as the heavy-duty eTruck series MAN eTGX and eTGS. These include the battery packs developed by MAN and produced at the Nuremberg plant, each with a usable energy content of 80 kWh, as well as the smallest of the three available drive variants, which is installed centrally in the frame and features a 210 kW electric motor and two-speed transmission.
While the large eTGX can accommodate up to six of the battery packs, the twelve-tonne eTGL has two packs installed – giving it a total usable energy content of 160 kWh. Depending on the truck chassis, the body and its intended use, this should enable a range of up to 310 kilometres. That alone is generally “more than sufficient for typical day trips in urban and regional distribution transport,” according to MAN. And since the batteries can be charged from ten to 80 per cent in 35 minutes using a fast charger, a daily range of up to 600 kilometres should be possible with a single charging process during the driver’s break or while unloading goods.
The eTGL is also set to benefit from the ‘latest efficiency improvements’ that MAN has introduced in the eTGX and eTGS. These consist of a number of minor measures, such as more economical auxiliary units, more consistent waste heat utilisation and improved driving functions, which together are expected to increase the range by around ten per cent, according to the manufacturer. An eTGX solo chassis with a box body should thus be able to cover up to 870 kilometres without recharging. In general, MAN’s heavy-duty electric trucks are said to be characterised by their efficiency: around 400 MAN eTGX and eTGS trucks have already covered over nine million kilometres in customer use in just under a year, with an average consumption of around 93 kWh per 100 kilometres.
With a refrigerated body that consumes energy itself, even the eTGX cannot, of course, travel 870 kilometres. Nevertheless, MAN can handle many transport tasks and customer requests with its electric trucks. With the new eTGL, refrigerated transport in the twelve-tonne segment will also be possible in future, for example, as a frozen food distributor for supermarket deliveries.
“With the new eTGL for refrigerated logistics, we are significantly expanding the range of applications of our lightweight eTruck,” said Friedrich Baumann, Executive Board Member for Sales & Customer Solutions at MAN Truck & Bus. “Together with eTGX and eTGS, we now have a highly efficient zero-emission portfolio for temperature-controlled logistics – from inner-city distribution transport to long-distance transport.”
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