Dachser has put twelve MAN eTGX into service. With the special ultra-lowliner semitrailer trucks, Dachser can now expand its growing fleet of electric trucks in the area of volume transport with so-called megatrailers. These units offer an interior height that is 200 mm greater, as the loading area is just under 1,000 mm above the road surface. With the same length and width and an overall height that remains below the vehicle height permitted in Germany of 4 m, the available cargo space increases by 8 m3. In double-deck loading, a so-called megatrailer offers space for 67 Euro pallets.
“For Dachser, this is another step towards the full practicality of electric trucks in long-distance transport,” explains Stefan Hohm, Chief Development Officer at Dachser, who received the electric additions from Dr. Frederik Zohm, Executive Board Member for Research and Development at MAN Truck & Bus. “Since 2021, we have been fully relying on trailers with more interior height in our European groupage network, as they are more economical and resource-efficient on long distances than standard trailers. The fact that the units with MAN eTGX ultra-lowliners can now also be pulled fully electrically moves us forward on the path to more sustainable logistics.”
The twelve eTGX lowliner vehicles were picked up directly from the production line by their future drivers at the MAN plant in Munich and transferred to their deployment locations in Germany.
Another eTGX in the Netherlands
Additionally, since December 2024, an eTGX has been in operation in the Netherlands for Müller Fresh Food Logistics. The food logistics provider has been part of Dachser since 2023.
“The fact that large logistics providers like Dachser are progressively equipping their fleets with electric trucks shows that the shift to zero-emission drives in logistics is becoming a reality. The MAN eTruck, with its modular battery concept and adaptability to all standard transport applications, is designed so that our customers do not have to make any compromises compared to a conventionally powered truck. As an ultra-lowliner tractor unit for volume transport, it offers, despite the shortest wheelbase, the maximum battery volume for approximately 500 km of range,” said Dr. Frederik Zohm during the official handover.
Dachser relies on electric trucks
Since 2015, Dachser has been using battery-electric vehicles for local zero-emission city center deliveries. At three e-mobility locations in Germany, the logistics service provider is primarily testing zero-emission trucks for general cargo logistics and the interaction of photovoltaic systems, battery storage, intelligent charging systems, and charging infrastructure. Including the twelve new MAN eTGX trucks, over 120 electric trucks are now in operation for Dachser in short and long-distance transport across Europe.
MAN eTruck: Technological Innovation as Key
The Ultra-Low-Liner eTruck MAN eTGX, with a coupling height of only 950 mm and a very short wheelbase of 3.75 m, nevertheless possesses a high battery capacity and a range of around 500 km. This makes it particularly suitable for operations where maximum cargo volume with an interior height of up to 3 m is crucial. Thanks to its modular battery concept with a choice of four, five, or six battery packs and power levels of 449 and 544 HP, the eTGX can be adapted for many transport tasks. Additionally, it is available with both the standard CCS charging technology (up to 375 kW) and the new MCS standard with up to 1 MW charging capacity, which enables even faster intermediate charging during the driver's break. Alongside the MAN eTGX and eTGS for heavy transport tasks, the MAN eTGL complements the MAN electric truck portfolio for light distribution traffic.
Rental through TIP Group
The deployment of the first twelve MAN eTGX at Dachser is carried out by the TIP Group. This allows Dachser to react flexibly and quickly to the growing demands of zero-emissions logistics.
Funding by the Federal Ministry of Transport
The first twelve MAN E-trucks for Dachser are funded under the directive on the promotion of light and heavy commercial vehicles with alternative, environmentally friendly drives and the corresponding refueling and charging infrastructure (KsNI) by the Federal Ministry of Transport. The funding directive is coordinated by NOW GmbH, and applications are approved by the Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility.
About Dachser
The family-owned company Dachser, headquartered in Kempten, offers transport logistics, warehousing, and customer-specific services within two Business Fields: Dachser Air & Sea Logistics and Dachser Road Logistics. Comprehensive contract logistics services as well as industry-specific solutions complement the offering. In 2023, with around 34,000 employees at 377 locations worldwide, Dachser generated a consolidated revenue of around 7.1 billion euros. The logistics service provider moved a total of 77.4 million shipments with a weight of 40.0 million tons. Dachser is represented in 42 countries with its own national companies.
