The new MAN eTruck
Visually loud, but quiet as a whisper when running – the upcoming electric truck from MAN sets out its stall clearly and is intended to help shape the future of long-distance transport. Designer Carolin Schütt, MAN eTruck project manager Jens Hartmann and product developer Bertram Höll provide initial insights into what makes the new MAN eTruck tick.
Megawatt charging is the formula that MAN is currently refining together with ABB E-mobility, one of the world’s leading providers of charging solutions for electric vehicles. With daily ranges of between 600 and 800 kilometres, the stylish MAN eTruck is designed to be suitable for long-distance trucking.
At a presentation in Berlin, MAN Product Development employee Bertram Höll had the opportunity to steer the new eTruck onto the stage. The excitement not only revolved around how the new electric truck would be received – an added thrill came from the fact that the Transport Minister was sitting next to him in the passenger seat. To be fair, there is no lack of excitement in Bertram Höll’s everyday working life, either: the 43-year-old is in charge of commissioning the electric vehicles at MAN. He sees his task as being a link in the chain between production and validation. ‘I breathe life into the vehicles. You could say we put the eTrucks on the streets,’ he says. The way in which the developers get the product ready for market is varied and challenging, he adds. This includes extensive test runs with the future vehicle. To this end, it travels on a wide variety of routes and test sites in Europe in order to be put through its paces in different climates.
‘In order to offer customers long-term durability, the vehicles must also withstand continuous operation and strength testing,’ explains Höll. On the odd occasion the trucks are not in action, the developers use the time to install new component updates and check them. ‘The development process involves constant adjustments and changes. This is the only way we can offer our customers the best possible product,’ says the expert.
Jens Hartmann, MAN eTruck Project Manager, knows what the new MAN eTruck is really capable of:
‘We have set ourselves the goal of achieving an optimal price–range ratio. Our eTruck is being developed for a very wide range of customer applications.’
Particular attention is being paid to the topic of charging the new electric MAN – the particularly fast MCS charging system with which the truck will be equipped is designed to make daily ranges of between 600 and 800 kilometres possible. In terms of acceleration, the all-electric vehicle will perform better than conventional trucks. ‘In addition, there is the possibility of recovering energy via recuperation. To a certain extent, the vehicle charges while driving,’ explains Hartmann. In this regard, experienced drivers will have the opportunity to make an important contribution to reducing operating costs.
The three experts already agree that the new eTruck will be a big hit. Bertram Höll says ‘the prototype already looks fantastic’ and that driving the vehicle is a special experience.
A special look for a special truck
Visibility and recognition value were two requirements for the design of the prototype. Together with MAN Sales, the MAN design team agreed on ‘High-Voltage Red’ as the accent colour. ‘The colour comes from the high-voltage cables and symbolises the electrical power that is now flowing through our trucks,’ explains one of the designers, Carolin Schütt. The red is also particularly well highlighted by the matt anthracite paint of the traction engine, she adds.
Material trends and innovations play a major role in the work of the designers. The search often starts several years in advance and is in many cases directly inspired by the product design. On the other hand, she and her team pay no attention to short-lived trends, says Schütt.
Designer Carolin Schütt
‘The demands on the materials are very high in our industry. That’s why, together with quality, it’s also our job to keep an eye on the intrinsic value of our products over the entire service life.’
In the long-distance transport sector in particular, the drivers who work and live in the cab are heavily dependent on what has been installed, she adds. In that context, the drivers should feel comfortable, but the design should be functional in equal measure.
‘With the eTruck, we have our finger on the pulse of the current zeitgeist’ Carolin Schütt says confidently, and she agrees with Bertram Höll from the Product Development department: ‘Continuing to use fossil fuels as before will be extremely damaging to our planet. That’s why there is no alternative to e-mobility for me. To be able to be part of that journey does give you a sense of pride.’ The experts agree that the next few years will be even more exciting than the ones that went before. After all, it’s not without good reason that we say THE FUTURE STARTS NOW.
