Daimler Truck has kicked off the second phase of customer-oriented testing with five Mercedes-Benz GenH2 trucks operated by Hornbach, Reber Logistik, Teva Deutschland (ratiopharm), Rhenus, and DHL Supply Chain. The goal is to evaluate cross-industry use cases and additional real-world operating scenarios. All insights gathered during testing will feed directly into further vehicle development as well as preparations for sales and service processes. In parallel, Daimler Truck has also started development of their next generation fuel-cell trucks.

Renault has presented the ready-to-manufacture version of the new Trafic E-Tech Electric. It is the brand’s first model built on Ampere’s flexible SDV (Software-Defined Vehicle) architecture and marks Renault’s debut of 800-volt technology. This enables charging from 15 to 80 percent in roughly 20 minutes, adding about 260 kilometers of range. Total range is expected to reach up to 450 kilometers depending on the battery configuration. According to Renault, the electric van will launch by the end of 2026, followed by additional variants including a chassis cab, flatbed, and cargo box.

MAN Truck & Bus has revealed a new variant of its fully electric MAN eTGL chassis designed specifically for refrigerated-box bodies. The 12-ton model is intended to support locally emission-free and low-noise distribution of temperature-sensitive goods such as food. A high-voltage interface enables direct power supply to the refrigeration unit from the vehicle’s electrical system — efficiently and with optimized weight. MAN’s fully electric refrigerated logistics portfolio now spans 12 to 42 tons.

With 160 kWh of usable battery capacity, the MAN eTGL offers a range of up to 310 kilometers depending on body and application, without interim charging. New fast-charging technology can replenish the two battery packs from 10 to 80 percent in around 35 minutes. Breaks and unloading times can therefore be used efficiently, extending daily range to as much as 600 kilometers.

With the new eTGL for refrigerated logistics, MAN aims to significantly expand the application range of its light-duty eTruck. Together with the eTGX and eTGS, MAN now offers what it describes as a highly efficient zero-emission portfolio for temperature-controlled logistics — from urban distribution all the way to long-haul transport. Like its larger siblings, the eTGL also benefits from recent efficiency improvements: more efficient auxiliary units, better waste-heat recovery, and enhanced driving functions increase range by around ten percent. An eTGX tractor unit with six batteries now delivers up to 570 kilometers, while an eTGX rigid truck with a box body can reach up to 870 kilometers without recharging.

At the COP30 climate conference in Belém, the TRATON GROUP and its brand Volkswagen Truck & Bus—together with a coalition of logistics companies, infrastructure providers, and the Brazilian government—presented the “Laneshift e-Dutra” project, marking one of the largest private-sector collaborations to decarbonize freight transport in Brazil.

The e-Dutra corridor is Brazil’s first zero-emissions freight route and forms part of the Global Green Road Corridors Initiative. Designed to help decarbonize heavy-duty freight between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, the project aims to set new standards for international climate cooperation. By pooling demand and coordinating all stakeholders, the initiative seeks to reduce investment risk in charging infrastructure and accelerate the deployment of zero-emission trucks.

The project has already delivered tangible results. Volkswagen Truck & Bus, working with the LOTS Group, has completed the first electric truck run along the corridor using the existing infrastructure. DHL Supply Chain, Amazon, and Scania have also begun operating electric freight routes in the region. These early deployments will help assess infrastructure needs and optimize vehicle performance ahead of a large-scale rollout.

DHL, together with its subsidiary StreetScooter GmbH and engineering company IAV GmbH, has developed an in-house charging and load management system. Following successful field tests with around 600 battery-electric vehicles from various manufacturers in mail and parcel operations, the system has now been rolled out nationwide — covering more than 35,000 electric vehicles including e-bikes.

The system is designed to manage energy flows more efficiently, avoid peak loads, optimize the use of on-site renewable power (such as photovoltaics installed on distribution center rooftops), and increase transparency with respect to energy consumption and fleet utilization. Through backend interfaces and vehicle connectivity, 24-hour charging plans can be generated for each vehicle, taking into account vehicle status, usage profiles, and environmental factors such as winter conditions.