“We’re getting a head start!”

Protecting the climate is a top priority for Friedrich Wenner GmbH. In addition to generating renewable electricity with an on-site solar array, the cardboard-box manufacturer is now using a MAN eTGM to boost the company’s green credentials.

Whenever Harald Napiwotzki has driven his truck away from the premises of Friedrich Wenner Versmolder Vollpappen-Verarbeitungs GmbH recently en route to a customer, he has done so almost silently and – most importantly – with zero emissions. The MAN eTGM, which is the first fully electric vehicle to be integrated into the company’s working practice, is one part of an environmental pledge fully endorsed by managing director Stephan Potthoff-Wenner:

“The new MAN eTGM is an ideal addition to the many different measures we have introduced over the past few years to sustainably reduce our company’s CO₂ emissions,” the managing director is pleased to announce.

Effective immediately, the fully electric vehicle from MAN will be supplying nearby customers with cardboard boxes produced by Friedrich Wenner. A conventional truck used to be driven on this short route, for which it would have guzzled an average of 80–90 litres of diesel. “This was enough to make us consider alternatives,” says Potthoff-Wenner with conviction.

Proof of a viable alternative approach is provided by the MAN eTGM: a 26-ton truck driven by an electric motor rated at 264 kW (360 hp) that delivers a maximum torque of 3,100 Nm. Even for a seasoned career trucker like Harald, making the transition to a fully electric vehicle for deliveries came with its own unique challenges.

Training for a new driving sensation

“You press the button, then something ought to happen. But it doesn’t,” managing director Potthoff-Wenner laughs. And driver Harald enthusiastically confirms that the truck makes no noise whatsoever: “Not even when starting the motor.” Even while driving, you would only hear the wind whistling by.

“It’s a nice way to drive and a real experience.”

Thanks to driver training provided by an expert from MAN ProfiDrive®, switching from the familiar diesel to an electric alternative is no big deal for Harald. With expert coach Malte Meiners in the co-driver’s seat, Harald has quickly learned the ropes for driving a fully electric vehicle. “It’s a nice way to drive,” Harald says, “and a real experience.”

Joint launch with MAN

For the company from Versmold, Germany, procuring the eTGM was the first step towards using electrical energy generated on site.

A display in the cab tells driver Harald when his innovative new truck will next need to be plugged in for charging. Depending on operational factors and conditions related to the climate and topography, this might be after driving as far as 200 kilometres. At Friedrich Wenner, the electric MAN is then charged using the electricity generated on the company’s solar array.

“We know that there are still some critical issues to be solved with regard to battery technology, but we’ll never get on the right track if we all just say ‘we’ll just wait a little longer’. That was what motivated us to get things rolling: we’re getting a head start and collaborating on this interesting project with MAN,” explains Stephan Potthoff-Wenner. MAN is kicking off an entire series by handing over this electric Lion to Friedrich Wenner GmbH: in 2020, the company will deliver further electric vehicles to customers throughout Europe. With the MAN eTGM, driver Harald and Friedrich Wenner GmbH are already well on their way into an innovative transportation future – one that is environmentally responsible and almost silent. The wheels are already in motion.