The Trump Cards among the Electric Trucks

The race to secure a share of the electric truck market has begun. Around the globe, newcomers and established vehicle brands alike are developing the first generation of trucks with this drive technology to reach the market.

Electric trucks can help achieve the climate goals. Photo: Fotolia – Mike Mareen

The time for grandiose announcements is over. Now the engineers need to start delivering, and this represents an ambitious proposition for many manufacturers of electric vehicles. European manufacturers have focused on distribution transport with ranges of up to 300 kilometers. The same applies for special public service vehicles. Also on show at the IAA Commercial Vehicles in Hannover are vehicles from smaller-scale manufacturers and conversion specialists such as Swiss firm E-Force.

Nikola relies on fuel cell

Cast your eyes over the Atlantic and you will quickly see that American e-truck ambitions are more centered around long-haul transport. Californian startup Thor Trucks intends to develop an e-truck with a range of 500 kilometers – the ET-One – and thereby provide competition for the likes of Tesla and Nikola.
These firms are targeting ranges of 800 to 1,000 kilometers with their juggernauts. Nikola is employing a fuel cell as its energy source in this endeavor. While the cards are still being shuffled for longhaul transport, Chinese firm BYD (Build Your Dreams) has found a foothold in the American market with its
mid-sized electric trucks, and is now among the largest providers. BYD has long been an expert in battery production, and started manufacturing electric
vehicles for the domestic market way back in 2003. Nowadays its range includes heavy goods vehicles. Spurred on by increasing inner-city environmental pollution, Chinese manufacturers – including one of the world’s largest vehicle manufacturers FAW Jiefang – are driving development and production of electric vehicles across all sectors, and are aggressively targeting the export market.

Electric trucks in the overview

BYD Class 8. Photo: BYD

BYD Class 8
Power: 483 PS
Torque: 1,770 Nm
Range: 200 km
Speed: 105 km/h
Battery: Lithium Ion
with 435 kWh

Renault Trucks D Z.E. Photo: Agence Visavu – Renault

Renault Trucks D Z.E.
Power: 251 PS
Torque: 425 Nm
Range: 300 km
Speed: 85 km/h
Battery: Lithium Ion
with 300 kWh

Volvo FE Electric. Photo: Volvo

Volvo FE Electric
Power: 500 PS
Torque: 850 Nm
Range: 200 km
Speed: 80 km/h
Battery: Lithium Ion
with 200-300 kWh

MAN e-Truck TGM. Photo: MAN Truck & Bus AG

MAN e-Truck TGM
Power: 359 PS
Torque: 3,100 Nm
Range: 200 km
Speed: Not Specified
Battery: Not Specified

Mercedes-Benz E-Actros. Photo: Daimler AG

Mercedes-Benz E-Actros
Power: 340 PS
Torque: 970 Nm
Range: 200 km
Speed: 90 km/h
Battery: Lithium Ion
with 240 kWh

Freightliner eCascadia. Photo: Daimler AG

Freightliner eCascadia
Power: 730 PS
Torque: Not Specified
Range: 400 km
Speed: Not Specified
Battery: Lithium Ion
with 500 kWh

Tesla Semi. Photo: Tesla

Tesla Semi
Power: Not Specified
Torque: Not Specified
Range: 800 km
Speed: 105 km/h
Battery: Lithium Ion
with 1000 kWh

Thor Trucks – ET-One. Photo: Joshua Kolden – Thor Trucks

Thor Trucks – ET-One
Power: 700 PS
Torque: 6,750 Nm
Range: 480 km
Speed: 113 km/h
Battery: Lithium Ion
with 400-800 kWh

Fuso E-Canter. Photo: Daimler AG

Fuso E-Canter
Power: 251 PS
Torque: 380 Nm
Range: 100 km
Speed: 80 km/h
Battery: Lithium Ion
with 82.8 kWh

Foton Ollin eV. Photo: Foton

Foton Ollin eV
Power: 136 PS
Torque: Not Specified
Range: 260 km
Speed: 90 km/h
Battery: Lithium Ion
with 83.2 kWh