The BMW Group is partnering with logistics company Scherm Group to deploy a 40-tonne pure-electric truck later this year. This will make BMW the first automobile manufacturer in Germany to use an electric truck of this size to transport materials on public roads.
The innovative traction vehicle, which is licensed for use on public roads, will be deployed as of this summer for just-in-time material transport over short distances. The electric truck will drive between the logistics company Scherm Group and the BMW Group Plant Munich eight times a day, covering a distance of almost two kilometres one-way.
Thanks to its alternative drive train, the truck is quiet, CO2-free in traffic and generates virtually no particle pollution for the environment. This is also reflected in the vehicle’s overall assessment in comparison with a truck with diesel engine: The environmentally friendly truck will generate 11.8 tonnes less CO2 per year – equivalent to a BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics driving almost three times around the world.
“Just under two years ago, our BMW i brand put sustainable mobility on the road. This pure electric truck signals that we are constantly working on innovative solutions and tackling logistics challenges,” says Hermann Bohrer, director of BMW Group Plant Munich. “We are therefore delighted with the cooperation with Scherm.”
The BMW Group and Scherm Group are investing a six-figure amount in the pilot project, which will initially span one year. If the vehicle proves itself in everyday driving conditions, both partners will seek to expand the project.
“After a long search, we have found an electro-mobility solution for the transport sector,” explains Rainer Zoellner, “e-truck” project manager at Scherm Group. “We are certain to gain valuable experience with the BMW Group from this pilot project.”
The BMW Group pursues a holistic approach focused on implementing sustainability throughout the value chain. In addition to future-oriented mobility solutions, issues such as corporate environmental protection, efficient use of resources and reduction of CO2 emissions are firmly rooted in company strategy. Since 2014, the Group has sourced more than half its global electricity needs from renewables.