BMW amps up sustainability
BMW has begun using a 100 per cent electric truck to handle some of its local freight needs in GermanyGerman automotive giant BMW has employed a 40-tonne, all-electric truck to transport materials in the company's home city of Munich, where the vehicle will handle 'just-in-time' freight of goods between BMW and component manufacturer SCHERM Group up to eight times a day.
According to BMW, this makes it "the first automobile manufacturer in Europe to use a 40-tonne electric truck for material transport on public roads", the move said to save 11.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually over a comparable diesel-engine equivalent.
The commissioning of the truck, which is in fact produced by Dutch manufacturer Terberg, follows the successful pilot program launched earlier this year.
When fully charged the truck is said to have a range of up to 100 kilometres, meaning the modest two kilometres between SHERM Group and BMW Group Plant Munich should pose no problems. The charging process takes between three and four hours, and SCHERM Group says the vehicle uses 100 per cent green energy.
The truck will be used to transport a range of automotive components between the two companies, including shock absorbers, springs and steering systems.
While range remains as the biggest hurdle for all-electric heavy commercial vehicles, the Head of BMW Group Plant Munich, Hermann Bohrer, says the commissioning of the Terberg truck underlines BMW's commitment to reducing its environmental footprint.
"With our electric truck, we are sending another strong signal for sustainable urban mobility," he said in a media release.
"We are contributing to reducing emissions in the city and are proud to be the first automotive manufacturer in Europe to use an electric truck of this size to transport materials on public roads."
The Head of Logistics at BMW Group, Jurgen Maidl, said the truck's arrival would help shape BMW's future freight requirements
"With this project we will gain valuable information on what will be possible with electric trucks in the future for city logistics," he said.
"The BMW Group, along with our partner the SCHERM Group, is once again bravely embarking on a new journey and delivering pioneering work."
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