Avesco uses 40t electric truck for transport

Swiss rental company Avesco Rent is using a fully electric 40 tonne truck to transport equipment bertween its depots in a partnership with transport company Friderici Spécial and truck producer Designwerk Group.

Designwerk’s 900 kWH battery-powered Futuricum truck has joined Friderici’s transport fleet and is now working full-time for Acesco Rent.

The Futuricum trock is powered by a 900 kWH battery pack and has a fully laden range of 500 km.

The truck - launched on 14 October in Lucerne - has a range of 900 km when unloaded or 500 km with a total weight of 40 tonnes. The maximum payload of 21 tonnes was achieved by using a low-weight two-axle semi trailer built by Italian manufacturer Bertoja.

Designwerk is 60% owned by the Volvo Group and develops battery packs, chargers and electric vehicles. The Futuricum is based on a Volvo truck.

The new vehicle will be on the road five days a week throughout Switzerland, returning to Avesco’s headquarters in Puidoux to be recharged with green electricity. The truck’s charging time is estimated at 9 hours.

Avesco said the impetus behind the project was the relisation that as much as half of CO2 emissions on construction sites are due to transport.

“At Avesco Rent, we believe in the intelligence of sharing. That is our slogan,” said director Vincent Albasini. “This desire to find innovative and sustainable solutions has driven us throughout the process, from the first discussions in November 2020 to the realisation of our project today.”

Clément Friderici (left) of Friderici Special, with Vincent Albasini, Director of Avesco Rent, pictured at the launch on 14 October, 2021.

Adrian Melliger, Managing Director of the Designwerk Group, said the handover of the two trucks – a second vehicle has been supplied to Galliker Transport – represented a milestone; “Thanks to the installation of 900 kWh battery capacity, we are increasing the radius of operation in the logistics sector and enabling particularly energy-intensive applications, such as in heavy and special transports.”

An exceptional ruling was required from the Swiss Federal Roads Office (ASTRA) to allow the trucks to be driven on road. This authorises the use of vehicles with an additional length of 1 m and an increase in payload of 2 tonnes.

Friderici Spécial Director Clément Friderici, added ; “It is a big step to have this 40-tonne electric truck in our fleet. This technical feat opens up new development perspectives for more sustainable transport. We are pleased to be able to develop this idea from the prototype stage to an industrial tool.

Designwerk has supplied the 40 t electric trucks to Friderici Spécial and Galliker Transport.

“We hope to inspire the logistics industry and show that sustainability, one of the great challenges of the coming years, is also possible within this sector.

“We were surprised how quickly such solutions have come onto the market. The electric truck will be on the roads from 15 October 2021.”