The Revolution in Freight Transport is Reality

The silence emitted by a battery-electric truck as it glides through the city in the morning is still unfamiliar to many. Yet, in the depots of German and European logistics companies, this silence is increasingly becoming the soundtrack of a transformation that is fundamentally changing freight transport. What was considered a niche product for urban distribution just a few years ago is now conquering ever-larger segments of the logistics chain, thanks to increasing range and efficiency. The experiences of pioneers show: The e-truck is no longer a distant dream, but a practical reality—though one that requires a readjustment of processes and infrastructure.

At a glance: The battery-electric truck is revolutionizing freight transport, from city logistics to long-haul operations. Logistics companies like Emons, Kühne+Nagel, and W&P are already successfully using e-trucks and achieving significant CO₂ savings. Despite initially higher acquisition costs, Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is moving within reach of diesel competitors due to lower operating costs and toll exemptions, with TCO parity for heavy long-haul trucks expected between 2025 and 2026. Crucial to success is the rapid expansion of robust charging infrastructure, both private and public, as well as intelligent route and charging planning.

The Quiet Conquest of City Logistics – Pioneers in Short-Haul Transport

In Ditzingen, not far from Stuttgart, a fully electric FUSO eCanter has been strengthening the Emons Spedition fleet since June 2024. The vehicle is part of the subsidized REALIST research project and delivers goods to customers in downtown Stuttgart daily. After about a year in operation, Emons reports a highly positive outcome: The e-truck completed 164 tours with a total mileage of 12,571 kilometers, significantly exceeding the project goal of 11,000 kilometers. On average, the eCanter covered 77 kilometers per tour, transporting around 2.5 tons of goods for textile shops and small businesses. By exclusively charging with certified green electricity, 100 percent of the CO₂ emissions that a comparable diesel truck would have caused were saved.

However, the path was not without hurdles. Rüdiger Bausch, who helped initiate the project at Emons and managed the Ditzingen branch until July 2024, describes the bureaucratic pitfalls: An application for a subsidized charging station was rejected because the location was a few meters outside the Stuttgart city limits. Emons subsequently decided to finance the charging infrastructure out of its own pocket. Nevertheless, Bausch emphasized the higher quality of life due to less noise and exhaust fumes that the e-truck brings to the city.

Kühne+Nagel is also decisively driving electrification in short-haul transport. In August 2024, the logistics service provider expanded its fleet with six more fully electric Renault Trucks E-Tech D 16 4x2s, which are used for freight transfer at various locations in Germany. One vehicle had already successfully completed a test phase in Hamburg for over a year and is now being permanently integrated into the fleet. Tobias Jerschke, Chairman of the Management Board at Kühne+Nagel Germany, underscores the corporate responsibility: "It is our corporate responsibility to actively drive decarbonization in logistics." Another milestone was reached in June 2025, when Kühne+Nagel transported international heavy-duty cargo via a fully electric truck across the English Channel for the first time—a 1,100-kilometer round trip from Great Britain to France.

The Mid-Range as the "Sweet Spot" – Focus on Range and Efficiency

While city traffic is a natural domain for electric trucks, the boundaries of practicality are increasingly shifting into the mid-range sector. Modern e-trucks now offer ranges between 300 and 500 kilometers. Volvo Trucks, for example, announced a new version of the FH Electric for long-haul transport for 2025 with a range of up to 600 kilometers, intended to handle a full working day without recharging. The Mercedes-Benz eActros 600, which went into series production at the end of 2024 and was already named "International Truck of the Year 2025," also achieves a range of 500 kilometers without intermediate charging, even with a 40-ton gross combination weight.

DACHSER, a pioneer in the industry, put its 100th electric truck into operation in January 2025—a Volvo FL Electric 16-tonner with a refrigerated body, which delivers fresh food to Hamburg and the surrounding area. Christoph Kellermann, Operations Manager European Logistics at the DACHSER logistics center in Hamburg, is convinced: "The vehicle shows that e-mobility in logistics is coming of age and that fully practical solutions for food logistics or general cargo long-haul transport are now available."

The Dortmund branch of DACHSER uses three battery-electric trucks, including two 42-ton Volvo FH Electrics. These vehicles are used during the day for local shuttle traffic for customers and perform round-trip transport to other DACHSER branches at night. In 24-hour operation, the two Volvos each cover up to 600 kilometers—without intermediate charging on the route, as the routes are precisely tailored to the vehicles' range.

The Janssen forwarding company from Leer has also initiated a remarkable transformation. Nanno Janssen, head of the eponymous company, reports 13 e-trucks already in operation and another 44 ordered for 2025. "By the end of the year, we will be at 40 percent electric trucks, with the trend naturally rising," Janssen explained. For him, the e-truck is the most sustainable solution and, from a business perspective, "not far off" from diesel vehicles, especially due to the toll exemption.

Long-Haul Transport – Ambitious Routes and Megawatt Charging

Long-haul transport was long considered the last bastion of the diesel engine, but here, too, the limits are increasingly being tested. DB Schenker is not afraid to put new electric models through their paces. In May 2024, the company tested a Scania R450e, weighing up to 64 tons and measuring 24 meters long, on a regular long-haul route in Sweden. With an additional battery pack, the e-truck completed a route of about 300 kilometers between Jönköping and Södertälje without intermediate charging.

In January 2025, DB Schenker received the first ten of a total of 100 MAN eTGX Ultra tractor units, which are to be integrated into the fleet by 2026. These vehicles are specifically designed for high loading volumes and allow the use of mega-trailers with three meters of interior height. Marc Pühler, Senior Vice President System Operations at DB Schenker in Europe, highlights that the eTGX will be used in daily line-haul operations in the general cargo network in two-shift operation, for example, in a round trip between two terminals. In addition, DB Schenker expanded its fleet in December 2024 with 40 Volvo FM Electrics, intended for use in urban areas and regional transport throughout Germany.

DACHSER completed a particularly ambitious project in November 2024: A Renault Trucks E-Tech D from Bad Salzuflen drove to Hungary for a charitable purpose—a distance of 2,100 kilometers round trip. Matthias Syrbe, who works in dispatch, was initially apprehensive about the long journey, but careful planning of charging times and options along the route dispelled all concerns. "Based on the information we had—regarding charging time, batteries, range, and the vehicle's technology—combined with the charging options along the route, I had no concerns at all," said Syrbe.

Schlager Transport Logistik GmbH in Austria has operated five electric trucks for over a million kilometers in daily use over 20 months, saving 240,000 liters of diesel. 60 percent of the electricity comes from their own photovoltaic system. "We can't drill for oil on the company premises, but we can produce electricity. That is a real game changer," emphasizes Managing Director Hubert Schlager. The vehicles operate with a range of around 500 kilometers per charging cycle and return to 400 kilometers of range after about 60 minutes of fast charging. By 2030, the entire fleet is to be emission-free.

The Achilles' Heel of Transformation – Charging Infrastructure and Smart Planning

The success of battery-electric trucks depends significantly on a robust charging infrastructure. Nanno Janssen from the Janssen forwarding company gives a drastic practical tip: "Don't try it, because it's a nightmare for everyone involved." He is referring to the difficulties when one's own charging infrastructure is not yet working and one is dependent on public charging points.

Many logistics companies are therefore investing heavily in their own charging solutions. The W&P forwarding company in Prichsenstadt, Lower Franconia, put its own charging park with 56 fast-charging points into operation in May 2025, powered by a company-owned photovoltaic system and a 15,000 kWh battery storage unit. The company expanded its fleet by 20 Mercedes-Benz eActros 600s, reaching an electric share of nearly 50 percent of its 50 trucks. Alexander Wehr, Managing Director of W&P, emphasized that the eActros 600 convinced the company with its holistic concept and high range.

At the European level, the expansion of public charging infrastructure is being pushed forward. The EU Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) stipulates that between 2025 and 2030, a fast-charging option for heavy-duty vehicles must be established at least every 100 kilometers along the TEN-T roads, and even every 60 kilometers along the core network. Companies like Milence, a joint venture of Daimler Truck, Traton, and the Volvo Group, are investing heavily. Milence received over 111 million euros in EU funding in February 2025 and plans to build a total of 70 charging hubs with 570 charging points in ten countries by the end of 2025, with the goal of installing 1,700 high-power charging points across Europe by 2027. In July 2024, Milence already successfully tested a Megawatt Charging System (MCS) with 1.1 MW of charging power, which can reduce the charging time for e-trucks by about 90 percent to around 30 minutes.

A consortium of E.ON, Voltix, and GreenWay is also planning charging hubs along the most important European transport corridors. With an EU funding commitment of 70.3 million euros, around 330 megawatt charging points are to be built at 55 strategic locations in nine European countries by autumn 2028, with each location comprising at least four MCS charging points, each with at least one megawatt of charging power. Timo Sillober, CEO of E.ON Drive Infrastructure, underscores the importance: "Only with charging capacities in the megawatt range can electric trucks perform in practice what diesel can do today. With HDV-E, we are building the infrastructure that makes this step possible."

In addition to hardware, intelligent planning is crucial. A study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI) and the Swedish transport technology company Einride, based on over 38,000 delivery trips by the retail company REWE, shows: Software-supported optimization of route and charging planning at the fleet level can significantly increase the share of electrified truck trips while simultaneously reducing costs. Instead of replacing diesel trucks 1:1, which would only move 57 percent of goods electrically, up to 85 percent of the transported goods volume can be moved electrically with optimized planning.

Economy and Ecology – A Look at Total Cost of Ownership

The transformation will not be linear. The initial acquisition costs for electric trucks are still higher than for diesel vehicles. Subsidies, such as those offered for diesel-to-electric (DTE) conversion until August 2025, covering up to 80 percent of vehicle costs and 40 percent of charging infrastructure costs, can help. However, total cost of ownership (TCO) can already be competitive due to lower energy costs (especially with self-generated green electricity), reduced maintenance and repair costs (up to 50 percent lower), and exemption from the CO₂-based truck toll.

Medium and light urban electric trucks have already reached TCO parity with diesel trucks. For heavy long-haul trucks, TCO parity is expected to be reached between 2025 and 2026, as the costs for the large batteries required for long ranges still cause higher upfront costs. A study by PwC Strategy& predicts that in 2030, one in five trucks worldwide will be battery-electric, and e-trucks will beat combustion engines in TCO by this point at the latest.

Frequently Asked Questions

What ranges do modern electric trucks achieve today?

Modern electric trucks currently offer ranges between 300 and 500 kilometers. For long-haul transport, models like the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 or the upcoming Volvo FH Electric (from 2025) with ranges of up to 500 and 600 kilometers, respectively, are capable of handling a full working day without intermediate charging.

When will electric trucks reach TCO parity with diesel vehicles?

Medium and light urban electric trucks have already reached TCO parity with diesel vehicles. For heavy long-haul trucks, it is expected that the total cost of ownership (TCO) will be on par with or even cheaper than that of diesel vehicles between 2025 and 2026.

What steps should logistics companies take first when switching to electric trucks?

Logistics companies should first conduct a detailed analysis of their routes and energy requirements to determine the appropriate vehicle technology and battery capacity. In parallel, the development of a high-performance charging infrastructure at the depot, ideally powered by their own green electricity, is crucial to minimize dependence on public infrastructure and leverage cost advantages. Software-supported route and charging planning also optimizes the use of e-trucks.

Key Takeaways

Practicality: Electric trucks are already fully practical today for city logistics, regional distribution, and predictable mid-range routes with ranges of up to 600 km.
Costs & Efficiency: Despite higher acquisition costs, e-trucks can already be competitive due to lower operating, maintenance, and energy costs, as well as toll exemptions. TCO parity for heavy long-haul trucks is expected by 2026.
Charging Infrastructure: The massive expansion of depot and public megawatt charging infrastructure (MCS), supported by EU subsidies and private investments (e.g., Milence, E.ON), is decisive for widespread success.
First Step: Logistics companies should invest now in an intelligent analysis of their transport needs, the development of their own charging infrastructure, and optimized route planning to secure competitive advantages.

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