By collaborating to create an electric vehicle with a fuel-powered generator, Scania and DHL Group have made it feasible to transition to battery-electric road transport without waiting for a fully functional charging network.
The transition to electric vehicles must happen more quickly since they are the best option for a sustainable transportation system. The absence of charging stations, the high expenses of maintaining sufficient charging capacity at the depots during seasonal peaks, and the load on the grid and high spot prices for power on, say, quiet winter days are some of the challenges. The Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) from Scania and DHL enters the picture at this point. While allowing DHL to run 80–90% of its operations on renewable electricity, the truck aids in overcoming these obstacles.
Powered by a 230kW electric engine (295 kW peak), the EREV is a truck that is 10.5 meters long and can weigh up to 40 metric tonnes. A 120 kW gasoline-powered generator and a 416 kWh battery provide energy. The truck can go up to 800 km thanks to the onboard generator, which is first powered by petrol and then diesel fuel or HVO.
Software that restricts the use of the fuel-powered generator can be installed in EREVs, lowering and restricting CO2 emissions to a predetermined amount. It can carry about 1,000 packages (the volume of a swap body) and has a top speed of 89 km/h. With an extra swap body, the vehicle can tow a trailer as well. The car will be used for “main carriage” transportation between Hamburg and Berlin.
In order to assess the new e-truck’s performance in daily operations before further vehicles are added to DHL’s fleet, the Post & Parcel Germany division will use it to transport packages between Berlin and Hamburg in February.