The MAN Truck & Bus Group has officially launched the large electric truck, the ‘MAN e-Truck,’ intensifying its efforts to reduce carbon emissions in the freight transport market.
Prior to its official launch, the MAN e-Truck already received over 600 order inquiries, with customer deliveries set to begin in early 2024. Given the continuous increase in inquiries, MAN Trucks plans to start mass production of electric vehicles at its Munich plant beginning in 2025.
MAN has consistently worked to ensure the successful launch of the MAN e-Truck. Two years ago, it established an e-mobility center at its Munich factory for the development of the large electric trucks MAN eTGX and MAN eTGS and has made significant investments for the mixed production of diesel and electric trucks.
Following this, 50 prototypes of the large electric trucks were created, and training on electric trucks was conducted for approximately 4,000 employees. Additionally, around 100 million euros (approximately 142.3 billion KRW) were invested to set up a battery production facility at the Nuremberg plant.
Friedrich Baumann, Vice President of the MAN Truck & Bus Group, stated, “To achieve the goal of limiting global average temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius as per the Paris Climate Agreement signed in 2015, MAN has been working steadily, and the launch of the MAN e-Truck is a result of that effort.”
He further emphasized, “To ensure that by 2030, one in two MAN trucks registered in Europe is an electric truck, a national charging infrastructure is paramount,” adding that, “For the activation of electric truck adoption, a substantial expansion of 4,000 high-capacity charging stations in Germany and more than 50,000 across Europe is absolutely necessary.”
The MAN e-Truck is practical and comparable in functionality to the currently sold diesel trucks, especially inheriting the strengths of MAN products that can be outfitted with various special bodies.
MAN is also exerting efforts to expand the charging infrastructure. The Traton Group, to which MAN belongs, has established a joint venture with Daimler Trucks and Volvo Group to create a high-performance charging network at over 1,700 key locations across Europe, and cooperation with charging infrastructure manufacturers like ABB, Heliox, and SBRS is also underway.
Thanks to MAN’s commitment to the development of new battery technology tailored for commercialization, the MAN eTGX and MAN eTGS offer a variety of battery configurations to meet customer demands.
With two standard batteries installed under the cab and the option to add up to four additional batteries on the truck’s side, a generous battery capacity of up to 480 kWh is available, enabling a range of up to 800 km on a single charge. Thanks to specially developed NMC cell technology and temperature management technology, the battery packs are compact yet provide higher energy density, allowing for fast charging using standard charging facilities and in low temperatures, while also prolonging battery life.
The electric motor installed in the MAN e-Truck supports a maximum output of ▲333 hp (254 kW), ▲449 hp (330 kW), and ▲544 hp (400 kW), with maximum torque of ▲81.6 kg·m (800 Nm), ▲117.3 kg·m (1,150 Nm), and ▲127.6 kg·m (1,250 Nm), demonstrating impressive performance capabilities.
The regenerative braking system is also supported. The electric motor acts as a generator during braking, converting the truck’s kinetic energy into electrical energy. The maximum power generated equals the output of the electric motor, offering performance on par with high-performance diesel engine brakes.
The advantages in the powertrain and chassis design of the MAN eTGX and MAN eTGS ensure excellent load distribution on the rear axle and minimal vibrations during operation, enhancing stability. The power unit is securely mounted to the truck frame to protect against shocks and vibrations. Furthermore, installation of auxiliary devices necessary for special use is straightforward, allowing easy operation of hydraulic pumps and simple connections for specialized arrangements.
Through a modular battery system, load distribution of the power unit, and driver-friendly design, the MAN e-Truck features a compact wheelbase of 3.75m, achieving superior versatility compatible with most general semi-trailers. Additionally, thanks to the compact battery design, the MAN e-Truck maintains a low overall height for smooth operation while securing ample internal height of up to 3m. This provides specifications suitable for various transport regulations, enabling a swift transition from diesel to electric trucks.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr