MAN has previously experimented with electric trucks. In September of last year, it shipped nine eTGMs to businesses in Austria. A 264-kW electric motor with a maximum torque of 3 100 Nm drove the 26-ton all-electric MAN eTGM distribution vehicle. But the vehicles belonged to the "TG2" series of MAN trucks, which was the prior generation. The eTGM is not a part of the current MAN generation, sometimes known as "TG3" or the "New Truck Generation," but the eTruck is. At MAN's facility in Munich, 200 eTrucks will be produced overall in 2024, with many more to come.
What the vehicle is all about
The eTruck is MAN's first heavy truck powered by batteries. The vehicle we were driving was a fully loaded, 42-tonne GCM prototype 42 tractor. MAN claims a range of up to 800 kilometers, but there is a significant "but": this is based on the driver taking a stop for lunch or coffee and charging the truck at a megawatt charger. This is not a hassle or a bother. In Europe, truck drivers are actually required to take a 45-minute break every four and a half hours (maximum) behind the wheel. By the end of their break, their eTruck's power stores should be fully recharged thanks to megawatt charging.
Exterior
As you can see from the pictures, the truck resembles an OTT "regular" MAN that has been blinged up. The prototypes, of which there were two, had external accents in a stunning brilliant red or orange color that MAN refers to as "high-voltage red" since it derives from high-voltage cables. The low-profile eTruck was the prettier-looking of the two (not that the normal-height eTruck was any slouch in the looks department, mind you
Interior
Unfortunately, we are not permitted to provide any information regarding the truck's inside. Because the two units were prototypes, the finished product may differ slightly from the two. We were informed that there would probably be some adjustments, such as to the dashboard. Exactly right! However, we really loved what we saw, and based on our knowledge with MAN trucks, we anticipate that the eTruck's inside will be exquisite. Naturally, the MAN SmartSelect interior, which we adore, should be present.
Drivetrain
The eTruck from MAN has 300 to 350 kW of power and produces 3000 Nm of torque; it accelerates more quickly than one of Elon Musk's rockets. Driving actually is a complete and total blast. It definitely embodies the future of trucking because it is so quiet and smooth. It will be adored by motorists.
The third generation of MAN batteries are used by the eTruck, which was a fascinating side note to discover from the specialists. The eTGM used the first generation, and the MAN Lion's City E city bus (which just broke a range record in practical operation of almost 550 kilometers with one single charge) uses the second generation of batteries.
Around 100,000 batteries will be produced annually by MAN at its Nuremberg site starting in 2025.
Speaking of batteries, a decision must be made as to whether to prioritize a large payload or a long range (it's challenging to match the two). For this reason, MAN will use a modular strategy. Customers will have a choice between three and six battery pack configurations for the deployment-specific optimization of the new MAN eTruck.
Transmission
The four-speed transmission of the truck we were driving was, of course, incredibly smooth. There is also a two-speed transmission available.
Safety
Although the eTruck's safety features have not yet been disclosed, it is reasonable to presume that they will have a full complement of safety systems, just like other contemporary MAN trucks do. The MAN EBA emergency braking assistant, the radar-based cornering help, the lane change assistant, ACC Stop&Go, and other innovations are among those we anticipate seeing.
Our Judgement
MAN anticipates big things for its eTruck, as well as several advantages for the environment and transportation providers. According to MAN, a single electric vehicle can save up to 100 tonnes of CO2 per year over 120 000 km as compared to a diesel truck in long-distance transportation with an average consumption of 27 liters. Additionally, since the electric truck utilizes energy more efficiently than a conventional truck, transport businesses stand to gain as well, saving up to 7,000 euros annually.
MAN's technical experts informed us that battery electric vehicles are the most suitable technology for future CO2-free commercial vehicle fleets due to their low operating costs and energy utilisation from tank to wheel that is roughly twice as efficient as compared to both fuel cell trucks and today's combustion engine trucks.
Additionally, MAN's technical experts said that due to their low operating costs and energy utilisation from tank to wheel that is roughly twice as efficient as both fuel cell trucks and current combustion engine trucks, battery electric vehicles are the most suitable technology for future CO2-free commercial vehicle fleets.