BMW to test 40t e-truck

BMW has announced it has launched a pilot program that will see a 40-tonne, all-electric delivery truck plying the roads of Munich from the middle of this year, taking the scope of its electric vehicle efforts far beyond that of its compact i3 passenger car.

BMW has teamed up with local German logistics company SCHERM Group to breathe life into the program, which will see the truck handling 'just-in-time' freight of goods between SCHERM Group and the BMW Group Plant Munich eight times a day.

The truck will be based upon the Type YT202-EV (pictured), a 4x2 all-electric vehicle developed by Dutch firm Terberg for use as a yard tractor.

While the truck won't be covering any major distances – SCHERM Group and the BMW plant are just two kilometres apart – BMW says the switch to electric from a traditional diesel truck will generate 11.8 tons less carbon dioxide each year (the equivalent, the company says, of driving a BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics passenger car around the world three times).

While BMW makes no mention of the truck's actual specifications nor details what changes BMW will be making over the standard Terberg EV, according to Hermann Bohrer, Director of BMW Group Plant Munich, the pilot program underlines the manufacturer's environmental focus.

"Just under two years ago, our BMW i brand put sustainable mobility on the road," he said, in a media statement.

"This pure electric truck signals that we are constantly working on innovative solutions and tackling logistics challenges. We are therefore delighted with the cooperation with SCHERM."

Rainer Zoellner, 'e-truck' project manager at SCHERM Group, says there will be much to gain from the program.

"After a long search, we have found an electro-mobility solution for the transport sector," he said.

"We are certain to gain valuable experience with the BMW Group from this pilot project."

Both companies are said to be making a six-figure investment in the pilot program, which will initially run for one year. If successful, both companies have indicated they are committed to expanding the project.