An additional issue is the worsening shortage of truck drivers.
MAN Truck & Bus will be providing answers to these questions at the IAA Transportation 2022 and shaping the change: in conventional products with even lower consumption, even more workplace attractiveness and comfort for drivers as well as even more innovative digital services; for future CO2-free and intelligently networked transport with the development of autonomous vehicles and the market launch of the purely electric large-series truck from 2024, which MAN will be showing for the first time in Hanover as a trade fair premiere in front of a large audience as a near-series prototype. With a daily range of up to 800 kilometres and megawatt charging capability, the new eTruck will not only electrify long-distance transport, but with its versatility also all common transport segments covered by diesel trucks today. Its production with conventional trucks on a series production line makes the switch from diesel to electric particularly flexible. Together with comprehensive advice on electromobility and charging infrastructure, MAN thus makes it much easier for transport companies to switch to CO2-free drives.
The change towards sustainable, climate-neutral mobility is taking place ever faster, also and especially in the transport industry. That is why MAN is focusing on the three megatrends accompanying the change at this year's IAA Commercial Vehicles: Zero emissions for the CO2-free transport of goods by road, digitalisation for the optimal integration of trucks into transport processes and autonomous driving for more safety and efficiency, a targeted use of the scarce resource of driving personnel and the intelligent climate-friendly combination of different modes of transport. But actively shaping this transformation also means remaining innovative with conventional products.
The focus of MAN's trade fair presentation is the near-series prototype of the new MAN eTruck, which will go into service with the first customers from 2024. A special technical feature of the pioneering electric lion is its preparation for future megawatt charging: high charging capacities with short charging times make the electric truck suitable for heavy-duty long-distance transport with daily ranges of between 600 and 800 kilometres, and at a later date even up to 1000 kilometres. Together with low operating costs and the best energy balance, battery electric vehicles offer the most suitable technology for future CO2-free commercial vehicle fleets. In terms of application diversity and possible body concepts, the future MAN eTruck is in no way inferior to today's diesel truck: the CO2-free long-distance transport of refrigerated food will be just as possible with it as low-noise and exhaust-free waste disposal in the city or the fully electric transport of materials to the construction site.
Alongside CO2-free drives, autonomous driving is an essential lever for the transformation to sustainable freight transport. The advantages: fewer accidents due to human error, more flexibility and efficiency by detaching transport processes from statutory driving and rest times, and a reduction in unattractive driving tasks on long distances in favour of more demanding and varied driving activities in urban and regional transport for the few drivers still available. Source