it is being claimed that a modified Volvo FH has set a new distance record for an electric truck covering 1,099km on a single charge.
Three European companies including Swiss logistics operation DPD Switzerland, German global tyre and component maker Continental and start up electric driveline maker Futuricum – were involved in the Guinness World Record attempt to set the longest distance covered by an electric truck without a recharging stop.
Futuricum modified the base Volvo FH for package-delivery company DPD Switzerland, with the actual truck used for the record attempt pulled from its fleet after six months of active delivery duty.
“We have converted a 19-tonne Volvo FH to an electric drive for DPD Switzerland with a 680 hp motor and a 680 kilowatt hour battery pack, the largest truck battery in Europe,” said Adrian Melliger the CEO of Futuricum’s parent company Designwerk Products AG
As well as the massive battery pack, the truck was equipped with Continental low rolling resistance EfficientPro tyres provided by the manufacturer.”The upturn in electric mobility has put an even greater focus on the importance particularly rolling resistance optimized tires,” said Hinnerk Kaiser, Continental’s head of product development for truck tyres
“Our tyres enable high mileage and extremely low rolling resistance and thus offer the essential characteristics for the economical operation of electrically powered commercial vehicles.
“The EfficientPro is a tried-and-tested model that has been developed especially for long-distance transportation and focuses on range and low rolling resistance.”
The record was set at Continental’s banked 2.8km oval track, the ‘Contidrom’, in Hanover.
Two drivers completed 392 laps in shifts of 4.5 hours each at an average speed of 50 km/h. Despite less-than-ideal weather conditions, the record-breaking team took just under 23 hours to cover the 1099 kms to capture the Guinness World Record title for the longest distance covered by an electric truck .
“We decided to invest in electric mobility at an early stage,” said Marc Frank, DPD Switzerland’s strategy and innovation director .
“The Futuricum truck has been traveling between our depot in Möhlin near Basel to the distribution center in Buchs/Zurich for about six months now.
“The e-truck easily covers the roughly 300 kilometres every day without any problems.
“We are proud that we have now been able to officially document our performance level.”
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