Environmental project sees optimised electric Terberg hauling vehicle parts and saving 12 tonnes of CO2
In an effort to reduce carbon emissions, BMW, logistics company Scherm Group and Continental are currently testing the on-road sustainability of an electric Terberg YT202-EV equipped with tyres from Continental’s Conti EcoPlus and Conti Hybrid ranges.
Based in Munich, Germany, the one-year pilot program started in July and sees the electric vehicle transport components such as shock absorbers, springs and steering gear between Scherm’s warehouse and a BMW plant several times each day.
“The two-kilometre route is on public roads and the tractor will make eight round trips every day,” Terberg says.
“Compared with a vehicle with a diesel engine this will reduce CO2 emissions by almost 12 tonnes annually.”
The 40-tonne e-truck, launched by Terberg in 2013, features a Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery that powers the YT202-EV for an eight to 16-hour shift on the back of a one to 1.5-hour recharge.
For the project Continental has supplied its Conti EcoPlus HS3 tyre in size 355/50 R22.5 for the steering axle, its Conti EcoPlus HD3 in size 295/55 R22.5 for the driving axle and its Conti Hybrid HT3 trailer tyres in size 445/45 R19.5 for the semitrailer.
Continental says the EcoPlus range “significantly reduces rolling resistance, thus greatly reducing consumption even when running on conventional fuel.”
“The Conti Hybrid HT3 R19.5 tyres that are used on the e-truck semitrailer were specially developed for combined use on regional roads and highways,” the company says.
“With a long service life they are ideal for the frequent starting and stopping experienced in urban traffic, as well as the cornering encountered in residential areas.”
Continental has also contributed its integrated tyre pressure monitoring system, ContiPressureCheck, which analyses tyre pressure and temperature across all vehicle tyres.
Depending on the success of the project, both BMW and Scherm say they expect to extend the solution.
“After a long search we have now found an e-mobility solution for transport operations,” Scherm’s e-truck project leader Rainer Zoellner says.
“We are certain that, together with the BMW Group, we will gain valuable experience from this pilot project.”