E-mobility – What do I need to know?

A total of up to six high-voltage batteries (1 to 6) can be installed on the right and left of the main frame as well as in the middles and at the front between the frame side members, depending on the area of application. It is not possible to retrofit batteries. A seventh high-voltage battery is now also available which can be ordered and installed on the truck depending on the application.

By the way, MAN produces the high-voltage batteries in series production in Nuremberg.

The high-voltage system of the MAN eTGX includes the high-voltage distributor unit (7), the ePTO control box (8) with voltage, current and temperature monitoring of the optional interface for electrical PTOs, and secondary systems such as compressed-air generation (9).

By the way, acceleration and driving with the new MAN eTruck are only possible thanks to the energy from the high-voltage system stored in the batteries and supplied as needed.

Among other things, the low-voltage system powers various control units and systems around the cab. To ensure that the high-voltage system is protected even in the event of a failure or a necessary emergency shutdown, a second 24-V backup system in the form of two separate 12-V batteries (12) is used in the MAN eTruck.

Batteries igniting must be ruled out. With this in mind, our batteries feature a special, commercial vehicle-specific NMC cell chemistry with a low oxygen reactance. In addition, our batteries are protected against thermal breakdown by numerous protective measures – such as super-fast pyro fuses. We benefit from the experience we have gained in the bus sector. Third-generation batteries are now being used in the eTruck, without any fires ever occurring. Our batteries are also very safe in terms of impacts or accidents. All crash tests showed extremely positive results, where the batteries remained well protected and no increased risks were identified. As a manufacturer, we use advanced fail-safe mechanisms to ensure that the batteries are protected.

Unlike acid batteries, lithium battery cells cannot leak. Theoretically, it would be conceivable that coolant leaks out. This would cause serious damage that must be repaired in a service workshop at short notice.

For you drivers, it is safe to handle batteries. In principle, all battery components can be touched. Depending on the operating state, these can be warmer than hand-hot. The same applies to all other vehicle components. MAN complies with all relevant guidelines regarding the electromagnetic compatibility of eTrucks. You can therefore safely use the cab for as often and as long as you like.

Energy balance display when stationary

The high-resolution 12.3-inch colour display of the Professional instrumentation is also a top, premium feature of the MAN eTruck. It shows drivers all the information necessary to operate the truck in a clear and easy-to-understand manner. To optimise efficiency and range, you can display the progress of the energy flows over a certain period or distance as a bar graph. This allows you to draw conclusions about potential savings.

• Drive energy consumption (blue, upwards)

• PTO energy consumption at the high-voltage interface (orange, upwards)

• Energy recovery (green, downwards)

• Energy loss due to service brake (white, downwards)

Energy balance display while driving

While driving, the energy flow history for the last eight minutes of driving time can be displayed. Each bar represents the average value over one minute. The colour and direction system corresponds to the display when the vehicle is stationary. In this display example, the display for the electric PTO is still visible in the middle area.

According to statutory accident insurance specifications, trucks must undergo a visual inspection for defects before departure (departure inspection). As with diesel vehicles, all vehicle equipment on the eTruck must be checked to ensure that it is working correctly. In addition to the brake system, this also includes the lighting and tyres. Special considerations for electric trucks do not need to be taken into account. The driver must not disconnect the battery connectors.

No special action is usually needed if you park the eTruck over the weekend. Ideally, the batteries should already be charged for the next trip. At extremely low or extremely high temperatures, it is advisable to take into account the battery preconditioning during the departure period.

No, usually not. In principle, the vehicle can be started at temperatures as low as -25°C and operated at temperatures between -32°C and +45°C. There may be a reduction in engine performance above temperatures of 35°C. At extremely low or extremely high temperatures, it is generally advisable to define a departure period, therefore allowing the batteries to be preconditioned by the vehicle to prevent performance limitations.

In terms of the connection options, there is no difference to MAN diesel trucks. However, in contrast to diesel vehicles, consumers with up to 24 V can be operated for significantly longer, because the low-voltage batteries are recharged via the traction batteries (if required). Low-voltage devices can also be operated during charging. The daily consumption of the air-conditioning system on a typical summer day at 25°C is up to 50 kWh during 24-hour operation. With fully charged batteries, the air-conditioning system in a vehicle with six high-voltage batteries could run continuously for at least ten days. If you want to park the eTruck with full lighting, for example, at a festival: With six fully charged batteries and an assumed base load consumption of 1 kW, the electric MAN could light up non-stop for 20 days.

It is beneficial for the service life of the batteries if they are only charged to 80%. Ideally, their charge level is always between 10% and 80%. However, the batteries will not be damaged if they are fully charged regularly. Our batteries (NMC) do not need to be discharged to zero. If emergency operation of the hazard warning lights etc. is needed when the batteries are discharged, the high-voltage system provides a backup power supply of up to 24 V. By adopting a steady and anticipatory driving style with little use of the service brake and by maintaining a moderate average speed, you will ensure that the batteries have to dissipate as little energy as possible during the trip. If you are stuck in a traffic jam for long periods, the vehicle will notify you multiple times prior to the power going out and will initiate energy-saving measures. If the batteries are actually completely discharged, the vehicle must be towed to the nearest charging station.

The areas on a truck are too small to enable the meaningful operation of solar modules. Corresponding solutions can be found on the body side, but they can only be used to a limited extent – depending on the weather and the season.

The wheel configurations (4x2, 6x2-2 and 6x2-4) and overall heights currently available for eTrucks can be used on construction sites but are not suitable for heavy-duty operations. 6x4 and 8x4 eTruck chassis are planned, but not available at present.