German truck manufacturer MAN has completed a 3,400-kilometre journey from northern Sweden to Munich using its fully electric eTGX truck, showcasing the viability of long-haul electric transport with existing public charging infrastructure.
Dubbed the “MAN Polarexpress,” the 32-tonne eTGX traveled through extreme weather conditions, including freezing temperatures and icy roads. The truck, which required high-traction tires that increased rolling resistance, maintained an average energy consumption of 117 kWh per 100 kilometres, according to the company. In milder conditions in Denmark and Germany, consumption dropped to 105 kWh per 100 kilometres.
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“The aim of the MAN Polarexpress was to show that a fully electric tour from the Arctic Circle to Munich is already possible today with the new MAN eTruck and the existing public charging infrastructure. Now we can say: mission accomplished,” said Friedrich Baumann, Executive Board Member for Sales & Customer Solutions at MAN Truck & Bus.
Over the course of the journey, the eTGX consumed a total of 4,500 kWh, of which 670 kWh was regenerated through energy recovery when braking and traveling downhill, reducing the net energy requirement to 3,830 kWh, MAN said.
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The truck’s range before requiring a recharge varied between 400 and 500 kilometres, enabling it to reach the next charging point with ease, the company noted. Charging costs for the journey averaged 56 cents per kWh, nearly matching the cost of an equivalent diesel truck. MAN highlighted that electric trucks could be even more cost-effective if charged at depots, where prices can be as low as 40 to 50 cents per kWh.
“The pendulum swings even more in favour of the electric truck,” the company stated. However, Baumann cautioned that further expansion of high-performance charging infrastructure is necessary to support large-scale adoption.
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“In order to realise the comprehensive drive transition in long-distance transport with millions of trucks, major efforts and investments are still needed to expand the necessary high-performance charging infrastructure,” he said.
MAN is not the first manufacturer to undertake such a journey using only public charging stations. Daimler Truck previously drove its eActros 600 through 22 countries over a 45-day period, demonstrating a similar commitment to electric long-haul transport.
