One truck, one year, 400,000 kilometres. With that trial, launching partner AgroWorld Transport is testing whether international refrigerated transport can run fully electric at full speed. The lead role goes to a Mercedes-Benz eActros 600.
AgroWorld has been moving food since 1998, first around Oldenzaal, then to Scandinavia, and now across Europe from sites in the Netherlands and Germany. The flows that suit electrification best are the heavy ones on a fixed route, which is why the trial sits on the corridor between the distribution centres in Oldenzaal and Emstek and the swap point at Flensburg.
What Timovolt does here
The charge planning is tied to the transport planning and runs on Timovolt. The platform shows in real time where the truck can charge, what capacity a charging station has, and whether a charging spot can be reserved. That is what keeps the truck driving instead of waiting.
Charging happens on AgroWorld's own sites in Oldenzaal and Emstek, and on the road at the Milence hub in Padborg. Because the tractor runs with several drivers, two runs to Flensburg inside twenty four hours are achievable, seven days a week.
A series across the year
This is part one of a series BIGtruck is running across the year together with Mercedes-Benz Trucks, AgroWorld, Timovolt and Milence. Later editions follow the challenge from charging strategy and planning through to the experience from the cab.