“Grinning from ear to ear”

Achim Demattio knows MAN eTrucks inside out and down to the last detail; after all, he is responsible for ensuring that they precisely meet drivers’ and hauliers’ requirements. In this interview, Achim discusses his experiences of the electric vehicles.

Achim, hand on the heart, how does it feel driving an electric truck compared to a diesel one?

It does differ slightly, but it is still an extremely comfortable experience. The electric motor has a different response from that of the diesel engine. Full torque is actually always available, even when moving off on an uphill gradient or with a fully loaded semitrailer combination. The gearshifts are barely noticeable. And you can hardly hear anything in the truck’s cab. Wind noise is only generated at higher speeds.

What has been the feedback from drivers?

Over the past two years, our electric vehicles have mainly been driven by test drivers. They test the trucks in continuous use and under the toughest winter and summer conditions. The feedback has been extremely positive. Many of the drivers have been impressed with the quiet and powerful driving characteristics, the generous cockpits and the modern technologies on board that make their everyday tasks easier. I always have a big smile on my face whenever I get the chance to sit behind the wheel of an eTruck.

What has changed in the cab?

Practically nothing – and that was intentional. MAN originally planned to redesign the interior, to create a distinction between the electric trucks and the diesel ones. However, our customers were of a very different opinion. The various TGX and TGS cab variants boast outstanding ergonomics and have won numerous awards. With this in mind, the eTrucks will continue this tradition. Differences do exist, particularly in the fully digital display instrument in the new electric design.

What has changed in this?

We have added new features only needed for electric trucks, such as range and battery status indicators. At the same time, we also really went the extra mile in optimising the design of the display instruments. In my opinion, operation is now even more fluid.

How do you find one-pedal driving?

It makes a lot of sense in cities or in slow-moving traffic. When I release the accelerator pedal, the recuperative brake is automatically activated and recovers energy. This function can be switched on using the drop arm. However, I do find the two-pedal driving style more comfortable on long journeys and on motorways.

How convenient are the charging processes from the driver’s point of view?

The MAN eTrucks are equipped with two charging points that can be positioned in several places: front left, front right, rear left or rear right. Other manufacturers do not offer this flexibility. It is really quite practical, because the vehicle can easily reach the charging station, regardless of whether it is on the left or right of the parking space. As soon as the HPC charging station (High Power Charging) infrastructure has undergone extensive expansion, even very long distances will not be a problem with the eTrucks. Fast intermediate charging is possible with the MCS megawatt charging standard. In around half an hour, the battery is back up from 10% to 80%. The prescribed break after four and a half hours of driving time is sufficient for this charging process.

What excites you about electric mobility?

Playing our role in climate protection, helping to shape the future of mobility and designing the electric trucks of tomorrow: It’s an incredibly exciting and motivating job.