BMW's electric truck has been let loose on the Munich roads, ready to take up service delivering materials between supplier SCHERM and BMW's manufacturing plant. The 40 ton (36 tonne) truck has a range of 100 km (62 mi), allowing it to work all day without needing a charge.
Based on the Type YT202-EV 4x2 from Dutch manufacturer Terberg, the all-electric truck takes between three and four hours to charge and will complete the 2 km (1.2 mi) trip between SCHERM and BMW eight times a day, for a total daily commute of just 16 km. While the distances may be relatively short, the trucks are doing some seriously heavy hauling, and the environmental benefits of not using diesel powered trucks on that route are significant.
How significant? BMW has committed to charging the trucks using only electricity from renewable sources, which contributes to a saving of 11.8 tons of CO2 every year compared to a standard diesel truck. That's the same amount of CO2 as a 320d would use if you were to drive it around the world three times!
The initial project for the electric truck will last one year, but both partners will look to extend the project if it proves successful – and both will be hoping it is a big success, because of the six figure investment each made in the project initially.
Source: BMW
