DHL has reported that the first 100 days of a trial of the new extended-range electric vehicle (EREV), developed in collaboration with heavy vehicle maker Scania, has proved promising, with more than 90% of CO2 emissions saved compared to a conventional diesel truck during the testing period.
The EREV is an electric truck equipped with a fuel-powered backup generator that generates electricity to recharge the batteries when they are running low. It has been used to transport parcels between Berlin and Hamburg since February.
During the first 100 days of the trial, the EREV covered nearly 22,000km, operating more than 90% of the time in electric mode. The range extender was activated in only about 8.1% of the kilometers driven, resulting in the impressive emission savings.
At the same time, the EREV showed enhanced operational flexibility by providing an additional energy reserve when no charging station is available, unlike a fully electric truck.
The generator itself cannot directly drive the vehicle’s drive axle, meaning the EREV is different from conventional hybrid vehicles. It is a novel concept with great potential to support the transition to electrified transportation, both for the transportation operator and the transportation system, according to DHL.
However, for bridging technologies like the EREV to gain traction in the transportation sector, appropriate regulatory frameworks are needed, Tobias Meyer, CEO of DHL Group, urged. “We all – businesses, politics and society – want fewer emissions through increased e-mobility in freight transport,” he said. “At the same time, all experts know that the transition to fully electric trucks will take many years, primarily because the grid and charging infrastructure are inadequate.
“But we should not be forced to wait. We need pragmatic solutions like the EREV, and quick political decisions to enable such bridging technologies. We want to decarbonize the transportation sector now and regulation should not hinder but support us to do so.”
Trial details
Since February, the EREV has been used in the Post & Parcel Germany division for transport between the parcel centers in Ludwigsfelde (near Berlin) and Hamburg. During this time, the truck has covered around 22,000km and typically traveled the approximately 250km route on electric power charged from renewable electricity via the grid.
On colder days or when facing unpredictable charging difficulties (such as charging stations being occupied or malfunctioning) that require an additional range, the range extender was turned on, serving as a backup offering additional flexibility. This is a significant advantage over fully electric trucks, especially as this facilitates reliable route planning – something that is indispensable in logistics, according to DHL.
In the first phase of the test, the EREV operated over 91.9% of the time using grid-charged energy, with only 8.1% of the energy supplied by the built-in range extender. Compared to a conventional truck, the EREV has so far saved more than 90% of CO2 e emissions, resulting in nearly 16 metric tons less CO2 e during the testing period than a comparable diesel truck. Going forward, emissions could be further reduced by using fuel from renewable sources, such as biodiesel, for the small share of energy provided through the generator.