MAN Truck & Bus UK is preparing to revolutionise road transport with its upcoming eTruck launch. The initiative aims to enhance their UK network and boost BEV sales.
- Demo eTrucks will start appearing on UK roads by early next year, marking a significant step in MAN’s decarbonisation strategy.
- The company is set to expand its retail network while upgrading existing locations to accommodate electric HGVs by 2025.
- Strategic partnerships with charging and utility services are key to MAN’s infrastructure and operational goals.
- Managing Director Stefan Thyssen highlights the crucial transformation in workforce skill sets required for the electric vehicle transition.
MAN Truck & Bus UK is poised for a groundbreaking shift as it unveils its comprehensive decarbonisation strategy, centered around the launch of its eTrucks. This strategic move aims to bring its first demonstration eTrucks on British roads by early next year, heralding a significant push to enhance its sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs). This initiative is underscored by a broader commitment to widen its network significantly and accelerate its BEV portfolio sales.
Scheduled for launch at the RTX event from June 4-6 at NAEC Stoneleigh, MAN’s eTruck endeavour reflects an ambitious plan to prepare 66 of its UK locations for electric heavy goods vehicles by the close of 2025. According to the managing director, Stefan Thyssen, MAN’s ‘Transformation Strategy to Decarbonise Road Transport’ targets achieving zero emissions for 50% of its vehicle fleet by the year 2030. A pivotal aspect of this transformation is equipping MAN’s workforce, particularly its technicians, with the skills necessary to support the shift towards electric vehicles, which demands a distinct set of competencies.
The overhaul of MAN’s retail landscape involves expanding beyond its current 20 UK retail locations, with a focus on building strategic alliances with charging and utility providers. The rationale behind this advance is the predictable usage of charging stations by trucks on regular routes, which can form the backbone of a stable charging infrastructure. “By early 2025, our first demo eTrucks will be operational on UK roads, with initial customers beginning to use these vehicles by mid-year,” stated Thyssen. The feedback from clients in Europe has been overwhelmingly positive, with notable advantages for UK operators. The eTruck’s compatibility with a variety of trailers, including high trailers, and its multiple battery configuration options, allows MAN operators to optimise for cost, weight, and operational suitability.
Despite a challenging economic climate, Thyssen is optimistic about attracting operators by advocating for supportive governmental policies, including subsidy programmes, CO2-based road charges, and reduced electricity taxation. Thyssen acknowledges that the primary barrier remains the insufficient charging infrastructure, yet he emphasises the UK’s advantageous motorway system, which reduces the need for extensive charge points. Thyssen notes the government has made headway with initiatives like the £200m Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) scheme, projected to bring 350 BEVs onto UK roads—a promising start, albeit insufficient.
MAN is committed to assisting its clients through consultative engagement that addresses unique operational needs, from routes and weather to cost and infrastructure logistics. This process is aimed at ensuring a bespoke solution for each client, enhancing their transition to electric transport. Furthermore, all new eTrucks are equipped with full digital services, enabling proactive maintenance management and training for drivers to adapt to new driving styles necessitated by electric vehicles. “This is an enormous transformation for our industry and customers,” Thyssen remarked, recognising the shift as both challenging and exhilarating.
MAN’s eTruck initiative marks a pivotal move towards sustainable road transport, promising transformative changes in the industry.
