Danish engineering firm Danfoss successfully completed a significant electric truck journey exceeding 800 miles, demonstrating the potential of electrification for heavy goods vehicles.
- The electric HGV travelled from Denmark to Le Mans, France, aligning with the renowned 24-hour race, accompanying 48 electric cars in an effort termed the ‘world’s biggest electric road trip.’
- This 20-tonne, 17-meter-long vehicle underscores the practicality of converting to electric trucks, as highlighted by Danfoss’ own research, indicating many EU-wide journeys fall below the vehicle’s range capabilities.
- Chief sustainability officer Torben Christensen emphasised that developing a corresponding charging infrastructure is crucial to integrate electric trucks into daily logistics operations efficiently.
- The initiative aimed to alleviate ‘range anxiety’ and reveal the realistic prospects for electric trucks, backed by ongoing technological advancements and infrastructure development efforts.
Danfoss, a Danish engineering company, has made waves in the transport sector by demonstrating the heavy-duty capabilities of electric heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). The firm successfully orchestrated a journey over 800 miles from Denmark to Le Mans, France, coinciding with the celebrated 24-hour race event. This initiative was part of ‘the world’s biggest electric road trip,’ a venture joined by 48 electric cars, to showcase the advantages of electrification in heavy transport.
The electric truck, weighing 20 tonnes and measuring 17 meters in length, highlighted the absence of significant hurdles in transitioning to electric trucks for journeys under 400 kilometers. Torben Christensen, Danfoss’ chief sustainability officer, noted that nearly half of the trucks in Denmark cover distances under 300 kilometers daily. His comments emphasized that such trips are well within the capabilities of electric trucks given the current technology and available solutions.
Christensen further discussed the importance of synchronizing loading and charging times to maximize efficiency. He proposed that strategically placing charging stations at freight terminals could allow for seamless integration into logistics operations. The journey aimed to prove that with the right infrastructure, electric trucks could perform optimally even on longer routes, mitigating any ‘range anxiety’ and contributing significantly to decarbonization efforts.
Danfoss’ electric truck is part of the company’s internal fleet, used for transporting cargo between production sites. It incorporates the company’s own technologies, including the ED3 onboard charger and the SKAI High Voltage traction inverter. These innovations facilitate overnight AC charging directly from standard power outlets, affording significant flexibility and cost efficiency.
Additionally, Danfoss’ technology provides a 44 kW electric power take-off capability, useful for powering auxiliary functions on various trucks and machinery. This aspect underlines the practical applications of their technology beyond transport, offering solutions for sectors like waste management and construction.
The road trip was organised by GodEnergi, a non-profit focused on demonstrating the feasibility of long-distance electric vehicle journeys. Jan Darville, CEO of GodEnergi, expressed his enthusiasm for Danfoss’ involvement, recognising the company’s expertise in electrification solutions.
The successful journey from Denmark to Le Mans underscores the promising future of electric HGVs in reducing carbon emissions and enhancing transport efficiency.
