By the end of 2024, Cargo-Partner plans to deploy at least five electric trucks with capacities ranging from 7.5 to 10 tonnes in its European road transport segment. These electric vehicles will be used exclusively for first and last leg pick-ups and deliveries.
The initial roll-out of the e-truck testing programme focused on Austria and Slovakia, with plans to expand to other Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. Testing started in Austria at the end of March and in Slovakia in mid-April.
A Mercedes-Benz eActros-300 with a driving range of 250-300 km on a single charge was tested around cargo-partner’s hub near Vienna Airport. The lorry completed deliveries with an average daily cargo load of 5.5 tons and delivered 6.9 tons of cargo over 264 km with an average energy consumption of only 1 kWh/km to St. Pölten.
Also, a FUSO eCanter with a power output of 123.9 kW, a payload capacity of 3.1 tons, and a driving range of up to 200 km on a single charge was trialled over two weeks. The testing focused on deliveries within Bratislava and included runs to cargo-partner’s warehouse in Dunajska Streda and trips between Bratislava and Vienna. Similar to the Austrian tests, the eCanter displayed an average energy consumption of 1 kWh/km.
Following the successful trials, cargo-partner plans to integrate electric lorries into daily operations in collaboration with trusted partners. The company will also provide charging infrastructure at its hubs to support seamless e-truck operations.