BMW Group expands use of electric trucks in logistics.

The BMW Group continues to push ahead with efforts to reduce its environmental impact. One example is plant intralogistics, with the sites at Regensburg and Leipzig now using fully electric trucks to transport parts – and sending out a clear message around resource conservation in the process. We are also testing hybrid-electric trucks with range extenders to better understand how electric transport can be reliably used on longer, less predictable routes. With the support of innovative charging infrastructures and partnerships with leading logistics companies, we are demonstrating that sustainable transport and production can and do go together.

In Regensburg and Leipzig we use electric trucks to transport parts for the production of electric components, among other things. They move with zero local emissions, between the logistics halls and plants in the region.

Petra Peterhänsel, Plant Director in Leipzig, sees the use of electric trucks as a further milestone on the road to the future: “We are delighted to be undertaking this journey. The transition to electric mobility and sustainable production affects not just our BMW and MINI cars but our production method and supply chains as well.”

By using these electric trucks, Plants Leipzig and Regensburg are making transport more efficient and sustainable. And as well as reducing environmental impact, the vehicles help to keep noise levels down in the vicinity of the plants.

To make its electric truck fleet more efficient and boost sustainable logistics, BMW uses advanced charging infrastructures. In Regensburg fast-chargers keep trucks in operation and avoid lengthy interruptions. The charging points are specially adapted to meet the needs of heavy-duty logistics, and being powered by renewables, they help reduce the environmental footprint as well.

This investment in an innovative charging infrastructure supports BMW’s long-term goal of a carbon-neutral supply chain and sets new standards in the industry. It also shows that heavy-duty logistics can be efficient as well as environmentally compatible – and could potentially set an example for other companies working to electrify their logistics processes as well.

With fully electric trucks already operating in in-plant logistics, the BMW Group is now taking the next logical step: together with the DHL Group, it is testing a hybrid-electric truck in day-to-day logistics operations. The vehicle mainly drives electrically, generating its electricity on board when needed.

Rather than under laboratory conditions, the truck is being tested in real-world logistics operations on key transport routes such as the approximately 600 kilometres between Berlin and Munich, as well as plant-related day-long routes around the Munich area. The aim is to answer a question many logistics specialists face: how does electromobility work when a day doesn’t go according to the load plan? Or, more specifically, how reliably can electric trucks perform when distances are long, timings tight and charging not always available?

The answer lies in a technical solution: the hybrid-electric truck is driven purely by its electric powertrain, but when the battery needs topping up, a compact combustion engine generates the electricity required. The only function of the engine is to extend the vehicle’s range (hence the name “range extender”); it does not drive the wheels directly. The hybrid-electric truck, then, is a fully electric commercial vehicle, but with additional range in reserve on board – comparable to having a powerbank as backup when more energy is needed than originally anticipated.

Pilot operations have shown that, depending on the operating profile, the 40-tonne truck that is currently in testing can travel purely electrically for 80 to over 90 percent of the time. Together, its 230-kW electric motor, 416-kWh battery and 120-kW generator deliver a range of 650 to 800 kilometres.

The test forms part of the BMW Group Strategy for Reduced Logistics Emissions and reflects a pragmatic approach: not every route requires the same solution. On more predictable short-haul routes, for example, fully electric trucks offer particular strengths. On longer or less predictable journeys, a range extender can support the faster, more robust integration of electric transportation into existing logistics processes.

The pilot test is delivering valuable insights for BMW Group Logistics that will help make logistics quieter, faster and more flexible – from plant logistics to long-distance travel. 

The BMW Group firmly believes that the only way to achieve an emission-free future is by using a range of different technologies. That’s why we use other climate-friendly alternatives in logistics too, such as hydrogen fuel-cell drives. With this combination of different solutions, we can meet the different needs of the various areas of logistics. Meanwhile, we are also continuing to advance the development of innovative technologies to gradually reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Our strategic approach fosters sustainable mobility and is taking us ever closer to our aim of creating climate-friendly solutions along the entire supply chain, from production to logistics.