MAN Truck & Bus offers its customers a comprehensive fleet customer service for its e-trucks, covering all essential aspects of the acquisition and operation of modern mobility. In this way, the Munich truck manufacturer aims to facilitate the transition to alternative drives. With MAN Transport Solutions, companies are advised and supported by an expert team on their journey. The Munich-based Traton Group brand has now expanded this eMobility service to include several applications. A truck charging overview map, for example, shows suitable charging points across Europe.
A kind of 360-degree service to support e-truck fleet customers is also offered by other manufacturers of electrified trucks. However, MAN already started its service in 2018, which informs customers through fleet consulting in the fields of network analysis, charging infrastructure, energy supply, and demand planning, creates cost estimates, and analyzes other factors such as holding duration and savings potential. The first target groups were customers in public transport. But now, MAN plans to begin the series production of eTrucks in Munich by mid-2025, and according to its own statements, the company currently has around 2,800 order inquiries and orders.
eMobility Champions
However, with interest, the need for consulting and the necessity to invest even more in the already steadily growing personnel and technology is increasing. The range of consultations on the introduction of e-vehicles extends from fleet planning to the first charging infrastructure, and this across Europe. Thus, the truck manufacturer reports:
“Through intensive training, around 100 so-called eMobility champions have been trained in all European countries to advise customers on all matters concerning the introduction of electric vehicles.”
Display of Charging Infrastructure
A new feature of the eMobility services is that all experts involved as consultants can now use a new web tool that visually represents various calculations and provides a better overview of the existing public charging infrastructure for planning purposes.
Number of Charging Stations
This helps customers in their depot planning. To do this, the number and type of eTrucks in the respective company and the average mileage must be specified. Based on this data, the number of charging stations the customer needs can be calculated. Then the satellite map shows "which arrangement of charging bays can be realized" on the customer's premises. The map can also be marked with truck icons in various ways to create a clear picture of the conditions.
In a similar way, the calculation of a photovoltaic system can now also be carried out through the update. For example, the available roof area is directly specified on the map. The tool then calculates "the rough estimate of the potential energy yield" depending on the location and determines the impact on the customer's kWh price.
MAN Charge & Go: Supporting Charging
Alongside own charging capacities, the existing charging infrastructure also plays a role in the decision for battery-electric trucks, namely the possibility of "refueling" electricity at public charging points along the routes to be traveled. Here, MAN has developed several solutions with its charging planning service MAN Charge & Go for Europe-wide public charging, to locate truck-compatible charging points. According to the announcement, the service is supplemented by a clear pricing structure and an easier payment process at the charging stations.
MAN has also introduced a new "eTruck ready" standard, which for the first time displays truck-compatible charging points that meet the strict MAN criteria. These locations are recognizable on the digital map in two gradations: eTruck ready and eTruck limited. The first gradation includes unrestricted truck charging points; the second indicates that certain restrictions are present, such as regarding vehicle length.
Unique Map
According to the provider, the Europe-related truck charging overview map is unique within the MAN Transport Solutions eMobility 360°-consulting, as it not only shows the charging points currently connected to the network but also those planned by the end of 2025. According to reports, these total more than 1,000 locations by the end of the year, including the planned ones, offering truck-compatible charging options. "This initial network already enables the use of electric trucks on many long-distance routes today," it says. The project also involves the Essen-based energy company E.ON, which is expected to build around 80 public charging infrastructure sites at MAN service centers by the end of 2025, according to the announcement.
From May 2025
According to MAN, MAN Charge & Go will start in May 2025 in all major European markets. The map, announced in December 2024, is then to assist customers in the online search for suitable truck charging points. The MAN Charge&Go charging rate applies only within the network of the same name. The customer authenticates with a card at a charging station. The offer is designed so that it can also be used by mixed fleets with different vehicles. At the end of the month, customers receive a "consolidated and transparent" bill, thus gaining an overview of the charging costs of their entire fleet at all charging points.
Find the Ideal Charging Stop
MAN has integrated another service into its eMobility services: MAN SmartRoute for active route planning can be used by fleet managers via the RIO fleet monitor. The description states:
"Taking into account the battery charge level and the charging capacity of the respective charging stations, MAN SmartRoute always finds the ideal charging stops and thus creates the appropriate route."
This service is part of the integrated digital package for MAN eTGX and eTGS customers and can be used without additional costs for the first five years.
Variety of E-Trucks
Customers can use the digital service for a range of battery-electric MAN trucks for all sectors: from the 2-ton eTGL, to lowliner and standard tractor units, as well as chassis applications with 4x2 and 6x2 axle configurations. In addition, six different cab models from the eTGX and eTGS series are available.
