HUETTEMANN LOGISTICS SOON ON TOUR WITH TROLLEYBUSES
The HUETTEMANN GROUP is participating in a pilot project for heavy trucks with electric drive. The federal government is investing around 16.8 million euros in the construction of a test track for overhead line trucks in Baden-Württemberg. In 2020, the first journeys will start on a section of the B462 in the Murgtal.
“We are very pleased to be able to participate in this pilot project,” says André Manuguerra, Managing Director of HUETTEMANN Logistik GmbH. “The diesel issue and the reduction of emissions are on everyone’s lips. One possible solution for the future could be electrification. As an innovative logistics service provider, we are very keen to gain experience in the pilot project and participate in further developments.”
First test on federal highway
Since the beginning of 2017, the federal government has already been funding similar test routes for trolley trucks in Hesse and Schleswig-Holstein. Now Baden-Württemberg is following suit and thus the first test track on a federal road. The B462 between Gernsbach-Obertsrot and Kuppenheim is located in a valley and also creates real test conditions due to its local crossings.
Trucks from HUETTEMANN Logistik currently run on the test route between the logistics centre in Kuppenheim and customers from the cardboard production in Gernsbach. “We currently operate the route through the Murg valley 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In Gernsbach, we dispose of our customers’ production and feed it to our distribution warehouse in Kuppenheim,” says André Manuguerra.
Green future
For the field trial, HUETTEMANN Logistik plans to use one or two tractor units from 2020. They will have a hybrid drive and be supplied with electricity via overhead lines. The test route is 18 kilometres long in total and includes two six-kilometre-long electrification areas. In addition to HUETTEMANN, Spedition Fahrner GmbH is also participating in the pilot project in Baden-Württemberg.
“Lower pollutant emissions, less noise emissions and more efficiency: the expectations for electrification of truck transport are high,” says André Manuguerra. “It will be highly exciting to see how the technology proves itself in practice.”