E-truck sets world range record

E-truck sets world range record

The logistics service provider DPD Switzerland, the electric truck brand Futuricum and the premium tire manufacturer Continental have secured the Guinness World Records title for the longest route driven by an electric truck without intermediate charging with a total of 1,099 kilometers. To set the record, the partners used an electric truck that has already been used in delivery traffic for six months, thereby proving that sustainable, energy- and cost-efficient electromobility in the transport industry is not a mobility concept of tomorrow, but is already a reality on the roads of Europe today.   

Strong battery and efficient tires

For the record, a Futuricum truck was used, which is used in regional transport for DPD Switzerland. "We converted a Volvo FH to an electric drive for DPD Switzerland. Now the 19-ton truck has over 680 hp and, with a capacity of 680 kilowatt hours, the largest truck battery in Europe on board," explains Adrian Melliger, Managing Director of Designwerk Products AG, the company behind the Futuricum brand.

The three partners also decided on Continental EfficientPro tires, which are designed for particularly low rolling resistance. “Due to the rise in electromobility, the importance of tires with particularly optimized rolling resistance has become increasingly important,” says Hinnerk Kaiser, head of tire development for bus and truck tires at Continental. "Our truck tires offer high mileage and extremely low rolling resistance. These are the essential properties for the economical operation of electrically powered commercial vehicles. The EfficientPro is a proven model that was developed in particular for long-distance transport and where the focus is on range and low rolling resistance."

23 hours, 1,099 kilometers

The partners found the best record conditions near Hanover on the high-speed oval of the Contidrom, Continental's own test track. It is a 2.8 kilometer long oval test track. In total, two drivers completed a total of 392 laps in shifts of 4.5 hours each at an average speed of 50 km/h, which corresponds to a realistic average value for everyday use. The weather conditions were not ideal at the start with an outside temperature of 14 degrees and a ground temperature of only around 23 degrees. In addition, the wind blew at an average of 18 km/h and gusts of up to 40 km/h. And yet, after just under 23 hours, the partners were able to claim the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the longest route driven with an electric truck without intermediate charging with 1,099 kilometers driven.

Performance documented

With the record, the partners have set a joint example for a future with sustainable drives in delivery transport and demonstrated the suitability of today's technologies for everyday use: "We decided early on to invest in electromobility. The Futuricum truck has now been traveling between the depot in Möhlin near Basel to the distribution center in Buchs Zurich for around six months," says Marc Frank, Strategy & Innovation Director at DPD Switzerland. "The e-truck covers around 300 kilometers a day without any problems. We are proud that we have now been able to officially document its performance."

Info box:

Start: 6:37 a.m. CET

End: one day later at 05:33 CET

Duration: 22:56 hours

Record distance reached: 1099 km

Average speed: 50 km/h

Average consumption 58 kWh/100 km

Vehicle empty weight including swap body: 15.5 tons

Official Guinness World Records™ title: Greatest distance by electric rigid truck, single charge