How far can a MAN eTGX really go on a single charge? “All the way to Dortmund,” said FC Bayern Munich professional Konrad Laimer. MAN has now put this statement to the test in a real-world trial covering more than 600 kilometers.
On a winter’s day, MAN set out to prove that the claim holds true. The journey began at 5:30 a.m. in darkness and challenging weather conditions in front of Building V4 at MAN’s Munich headquarters. At the wheel was Rainer Miksch, Head of Driving Tests at MAN. Joining him were Christoph Heuel, Managing Director of HEUEL LOGISTICS from South Westphalia and a keen advocate of fleet electrification, as well as two trade journalists from Krefeld: Philipp Bönders, Editor-in-Chief of Truck & Trailer Welt (ttw), and cameraman Stephan Jansen. Our experienced camera crew also accompanied the journey. During the trip, both Christoph Heuel and Editor-in-Chief Bönders took turns behind the wheel of the eTruck themselves. The gross combination weight was 32 tonnes. The partially loaded trailer carried, among other goods, a shipment of beverages for FC Bayern fans from western Germany who were traveling to Dortmund to attend the Bundesliga top match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern Munich at Signal Iduna Park. At departure, weather conditions required lights, windshield wipers, heating, air conditioning, and seat heating to be switched on, along with the radio – all systems that remained in use for much of the journey, ensuring a safe and comfortable drive. The route initially followed the A8 motorway toward Ulm, where the eTGX had to prove itself in heavy rain and strong gusts of wind – a challenge it handled effortlessly. Near Ulm, the truck turned onto the A7 toward Würzburg. Gradually, the sky brightened and the weather improved.
Over hot coffee and breakfast packs prepared by MAN Catering, Christoph Heuel was visibly impressed: "Everything is working really well!"
Once the truck was charged and the team refreshed, the route continued via Würzburg and Frankfurt toward the Ruhr region. In the late afternoon, the eTruck finally reached its destination: the MAN service center in Dortmund. Logistics entrepreneur Christoph Heuel summed up the day with enthusiasm: "After around 12 hours and 645 kilometers, fully electric and with just one charging stop, we’ve made it to Dortmund. We even delivered a load of Paulaner beer for the big football match – and still had 90 kilometers of range left!" Mission accomplished. MAN had delivered on the promise made by Konrad Laimer. Despite winter temperatures, rain, and occasional strong winds, the eTGX consumed no more than 1.0 kWh per kilometer over the entire route – an excellent result under these conditions. For comparison, a recent summer test by Fernfahrer magazine recorded a consumption figure of 0.83 kWh/km, achieved under ideal weather conditions and without many additional electrical consumers. The following day, Friday before the Bundesliga match, another highlight awaited FC Bayern fans from the Rhine-Ruhr region who had traveled to Dortmund. In the presence of FC Bayern legend Stefan Effenberg, the eTruck arrived at the agreed meeting point. When Effenberg jokingly asked whether the cargo had made it as well, Rainer Miksch replied from the driver’s seat with a grin:
“Why don’t you take a look at the back, Stefan?” The trailer doors opened, the beverages were unloaded, and distributed among the FC Bayern supporters.
A perfect ending – and a powerful demonstration of what electric long-goods transport can already achieve today.
