Key information:
- Windrose says the truck will offer 960 km of range on one charge at full load.
- The battery is expected to have a capacity of 940 kWh, while system voltage is set to reach 970 V.
- That would give the truck around 43% more range than the previous-generation E700.
- The manufacturer plans to use LMFP battery cells and an aluminium body structure.
- Production of the third-generation truck is scheduled to start in 2028.
- Windrose has not yet disclosed the tractor unit’s kerb weight, making its actual payload potential difficult to assess.
- The 960 km figure remains a manufacturer claim. Real-world range will depend on factors including payload, route, temperature and driving style.
A range of 960 km would generally be associated with an electric heavy-truck demonstrator rather than a vehicle intended for regular long-haul operations. Windrose’s third-generation tractor unit is intended to bring that figure closer to commercial use.
The company’s preview materials refer to the new model as Mega E960. On its current website, Windrose lists the third-generation model as the E1000. The core specifications are the same in both references: a claimed range of 960 km, a 940 kWh battery and a 970 V electrical system.
960 km with a full load
Range is naturally the headline figure. Windrose says the new electric tractor unit will cover 960 km on a single charge while carrying a full load. Compared with the 670 km claimed for the second-generation model, that would represent an increase of approximately 43%.
The increase in range is not expected to result from battery capacity alone. Windrose says it will use LMFP cells and an all-aluminium vehicle structure. According to the company, the lighter construction should reduce vehicle weight and preserve more payload capacity despite the large battery pack.
Battery capacity is set to rise to 940 kWh, compared with more than 705 kWh in the current generation—an increase of around 33%. System voltage is also expected to rise from 870 V to 970 V. Windrose gives the third-generation truck’s energy consumption as 0.98 kWh/km, compared with 1.05 kWh/km for the E700. These figures are based on operating assumptions specified by the manufacturer.
Windrose compares the E960 with Tesla, Volvo and Mercedes
Windrose has also included the Mega E960 alongside several established electric trucks in its presentation materials: the Tesla Semi Long Range, Volvo FH Aero Electric and Mercedes eActros 600.
In the company’s comparison, the E960’s claimed range of 960 km is shown as exceeding the 805 km attributed to the Tesla Semi, the 700 km listed for the Volvo FH Aero Electric and the 500 km stated for the Mercedes eActros 600.
The same comparison places the battery capacities in a similar order. Windrose lists 940 kWh for its own truck, compared with 822 kWh for Tesla, 780 kWh for Volvo and 621 kWh for Mercedes.
The comparison does not represent the results of an independent head-to-head test. Windrose compiled the figures itself using manufacturers’ published configurations, and the conditions used to determine the stated ranges may not be directly comparable. Windrose also acknowledges that actual range will vary with payload, route, temperature and operating conditions.
A bigger battery solves one problem but raises others
The projected range is substantial, but operators will also need to know how much the complete vehicle weighs. Windrose has not yet released that figure.
A 940 kWh battery needs to be assessed alongside the tractor unit’s own weight and the payload that remains available as a result. In long-haul transport, additional range has limited commercial value if it comes at the cost of a substantial reduction in the amount of freight the vehicle can carry.
Industry publication BigTruck has highlighted the same issue. Without the tractor unit’s weight, it is difficult to determine how the large battery pack will affect the truck’s practical transport capacity.
The European configuration is another open question. Windrose’s illustrated tractor unit uses a 6×2 layout and proportions that differ noticeably from those of many typical European designs. BigTruck notes that the visible geometry could affect compatibility with European trailers, particularly the gap between the tractor and trailer and the aerodynamics of the complete combination.
MCS, CCS1, CCS2 and GB/T
Windrose is also targeting broad charging compatibility. According to the company’s materials, the Mega E960 will support MCS, CCS1, CCS2 and China’s GB/T standard.
MCS, or Megawatt Charging System, is an emerging high-power charging standard designed primarily for heavy-duty transport. Windrose says the system can operate at between 1 MW and 3.75 MW, with charging to 80% expected to take roughly 30 minutes when suitable infrastructure is available.
The ability to accept very high charging power does not, by itself, resolve the infrastructure challenge. In practice, operators will only be able to use the battery’s full potential where suitable chargers are available and can deliver the required power.
Production is not due to start until 2028
The timetable is an important caveat. Windrose says production of the third-generation truck is scheduled to begin in 2028. The specification could still change before then, and the projected 960 km range will need to be tested in normal long-haul conditions—with a trailer and cargo, at different temperatures and speeds, and on different route profiles.
Windrose already has experience testing the current-generation truck. The company says the E700 has been evaluated in Spain, on the China–Kazakhstan route, and in the United States and Mexico in cooperation with logistics operators.
If Windrose can deliver the E960’s projected specifications in series production without adding excessive weight, a range approaching 1,000 km could narrow the gap between electric and diesel trucks in long-haul transport. Whether the presentation figures translate into real operating capability will become clearer only after production begins in 2028.
