Major European truck OEMs featured extended range battery-electric trucks at IAA Transportation this September. IAA is the leading European international trade event for commercial vehicles, logistics, and the transportation sector, and takes place in Hannover, Germany, every two years.
Major European manufacturers including Volvo, Scania and MAN displayed brand-new battery-electric truck models with ranges extending as far as 700km for Gross Combination Masses (GCMs) above 40 tonnes.
The additional capabilities, in some cases almost doubling the range of previous models, comes via the fitment of additional battery packs.
The new Volvo FH Electric, winner of International Truck of the Year for 2027, features a lightweight e-axle integrating dual motors and a gearbox, freeing up space for up to eight battery packs on its chassis, achieving a total (gross) battery capacity of 780 kWh.
The additional battery packs have necessitated a new and separate innovation – a lightweight, steerable tag axle behind the drive axle, necessary to carry the additional load of the battery packs. It effectively transforms a vehicle with the physical footprint of a standard 4×2 prime mover into a higher-capacity 6×2 chassis, thereby solving the fundamental ‘range vs. payload’ equation for battery electric trucks.
Models from MAN and Scania featured similar capabilities. The tag axles typically ride on smaller 245/70 R17.5 wheels, and in some cases are steerable in order to ensure equivalent turning performance to conventional 4×2 trucks.
The innovative new configuration is not directly applicable to Australian markets due to key differences in axle configuration and loading regulations, but is nonetheless indicative of a shift in vehicle equipment and technology to overcome limitations and work within regulatory constraints.