Designwerk, a Swiss-based electromobility expert, is the first company to introduce an all-electric semitrailer tractor with a battery capacity of 1000kWh. The vehicle is capable of a 576km range, fully freighted to 42 tonnes, claims the manufacturer. Up to 640 kilometres may be achievable depending on the load and route profile, Designwerk adds.
The vehicle is particularly ideal for usage in Switzerland and the Scandinavian nations due to the specific arrangement of the battery systems behind the cabin and the resultant one-metre extension of the chassis. The 350kW charging option offers 80% charge in 100 minutes.
The truck has a power output of 500 kilowatts (680 horsepower) and is driven by a patented 1-speed gearbox with no gear change, clutch engagement, or jerking. The vehicle is available from Designwerk in Mid and High Cab 6x2T configurations. The first trucks debut on Swiss roads by the end of 2023.
”Large capacity batteries make the energy efficiency of electric trucks even more apparent. In this case, our electric vehicle consumes 52 percent less energy than a diesel vehicle. It is not only from a commercial point of view that the figures favor the e-truck. With an average mileage of 120,000km per year, the CO2 savings with a Swiss electricity mix are 74% over the entire service life of the vehicle.” said Tobias Wülser, Designwerk founder and board member.
