Electric pioneers in the transport industry

2023-05-27 01:33:00

“There is interest and curiosity. All drivers who have been allowed to drive our E-Volvo with 540 kW or 666 hp are enthusiastic about the pleasant driving experience,” says Elisabeth Andrieux, who runs the logistics company Hofmann & Neff (29 million euros) with her mother Eva Danninger euros turnover, 220 employees). “Honest range” is 250 km, the purchase was three times as expensive as a diesel truck, the subsidy covers 80 percent of the additional costs. Nevertheless: “We want to be at the forefront. There is only this way to implement the climate goals in heavy goods traffic,” the 35-year-old is convinced.

“We are facing a system change towards electromobility, also in heavy traffic,” says Andreas Reinhardt, head of the Federal Association of Electromobility Austria (BEÖ). But for that to happen, political impetus is needed. “The political swing towards e-fuels only raised doubts as to whether e-mobility is the right way.” Clear guidelines are needed. Andrieux adds: “This openness to technology, which is often emphasized, is just an excuse not to do anything and not deal with electromobility.”

At Hofmann & Neffe, the area of application of the new e-truck with a total combination weight of 44 tons is ideal for the still short range: the works traffic of an Upper Austrian. industrial company. The operation is not yet economical, but customers are being helped to meet their climate requirements through supply chain law and ESG regulations, says Andrieux.

E-truck traffic is picking up speed

In the next few years, many zero-emission engines will be on the roads, because 80 percent of truck traffic is regional, which means short ranges are sufficient, says Andrieux. Volvo recently received its largest order to date for 1,000 electric trucks by 2030 from the Swiss cement company Holcim. Replacing diesel trucks with vehicles will reduce CO2 emissions from road traffic by up to 50 percent per year.

The city of Steyr not only plays an important role with BMW and the electric motors for cars. The Swedish company Volta Trucks also plans to deliver its all-electric Volta Zero, which it mass-produces at Steyr Automotive, from September. More than 14,000 e-trucks are expected to roll off the production line each year. Charging infrastructure is required for e-trucks. By 2035, Asfinag intends to set up 1,300 charging stations for heavy goods vehicles along domestic motorways and expressways.