T&E Practical Project Zero Emission: MAN E-Trucks Deliver for Rewe

After a pilot project for delivering to city centers during off-peak hours, the Munich-based commercial vehicle manufacturer MAN Truck & Bus has announced further participation in a project to reduce emissions in urban logistics. The recently launched practical feasibility study "ZeroEmissionDeliveries - Berlin" by the European Environmental Bureau Transport & Environment aims to examine real-world conditions under which regional delivery traffic can be switched to electric commercial vehicles, using the example of the REWE Group. Results are expected in the fall of this year.

No more time for roadmaps - practical approaches needed

In general, the manufacturer sees great potential for climate protection in the electrification of urban and regional goods and passenger transport. However, the switch to electric vehicle fleets is complex and requires charging infrastructure as well as adjustments to power grids and working methods, the provider concedes. The core team of the project consists of T&E, the REWE Group, MAN Truck & Bus, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI), which will conduct the study. Other project partners include Stromnetz Berlin, Allego, and Compleo.

"After many 'roadmaps,' it is now time to create more clarity for companies. With the support of Fraunhofer ISI, we are investigating what is already possible today and what steps are necessary from politicians, infrastructure operators, and vehicle manufacturers to drive the electrification of truck fleets in large cities," demands Jekaterina Boening, Senior Policy Manager at T&E Germany.

The starting point of the analysis is the REWE Group's logistics centers in Oranienburg and Alt-Mariendorf. The feasibility will be examined using the practical example of regional delivery logistics in Berlin and the surrounding area. Delivery routes for over 250 REWE markets in this region will be analyzed.

"When delivering to our supermarkets in Berlin and the surrounding area, everything works in sync. A reliable drive for our truck fleet is crucial. So far, we have achieved significant fuel savings through better driving behavior and optimized route plans," explains Torsten Prag, Logistics Manager REWE East.

The study aims to clarify in detail, among other things:

• What vehicles are required?
• What does the optimal route plan for e-trucks look like?
• How can a mix of private and public charging infrastructure be designed?
• What requirements arise for the power distribution network and energy production?

Based on the experiences the commercial vehicle manufacturer has already gathered with the electric distribution truck eTGM in the so-called CNL project in Austria since 2018, the T&E study can be best supported by real-world data collected during operation.

"The T&E feasibility study on emission-free delivery traffic will provide valuable results to all stakeholders due to the inclusion of real customer requirements from the REWE Group," says Michael Treier, Sales Truck Market Preparation eMobility, who will accompany the project.

He particularly believes that the study will help him deduce what truck specifications will be necessary for the future e-truck portfolio and what charging infrastructure needs to be developed in the urban environment in the coming years.