Vehicles and fleet electrification is a pivotal strategy to drive the decarbonisation of the industry. Its application in logistics represents a significant breakthrough in curbing the large amounts of CO2 emissions from this polluting sector. Aligned with the European Union’s commitment towards the European Green Deal objectives and as part of the Horizon Innovations Actions programme, the NextETRUCK project is deploying Efficient and affordable Zero Emission logistics through the NEXT generation of Electric TRUCKs.
With a focus on urban and sub-urban logistics, the project consortium is working on three uses in three different locations: Barcelona (Spain), Istanbul (Turkey), and Utrecht (Netherlands). The electric-truck manufacturer Tevva is leading the Utrecht site, which will showcase flexible solutions for back-to-base logistics focusing on express transport. The demonstration highlights the significance of efficient mission planning and last-mile monitoring in this context.
The trial will apply the project’s innovations to ensure maximised results. A logistics vehicle will operate on a daily 8-hour shift, returning to the depot at night, aligning with the Low Emission Zone policy, which will only allow zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) for delivery in the city as of 2025.
Following these innovations, Tevva will create an advanced electric truck with a 200km range, incorporating an intelligent thermal management system to enhance performance and a digital twin, a virtual replica of the vehicle and its entire operating environment, to facilitate efficient monitoring and management. Thermal management is a relevant milestone for the use case that seeks to overcome the challenge of ensuring optimal cabin temperature for the driver without overconsuming the vehicle’s battery.