Our podcast guest today, Dr. Jürgen Wagner from "MAN Truck & Bus," explains his company's electrification strategy. In fact, the Munich-based company is following a three-pronged strategy: The manufacturer of commercial vehicles and trucks is developing both hydrogen trucks and battery-powered trucks. So far, the diesel-powered truck business is still the main component of the vehicle manufacturer.
It wasn't until June 2023 that MAN officially received a total of €24 million in funding from the state government of Bavaria. This sum is "part of a technology promotion" for the development of high-voltage batteries for e-trucks and e-buses. Sometimes, however, the further development of fuel cells and hydrogen technologies is also funded.
The large-scale production of high-voltage batteries is expected to start the year after next (early 2025). Until then, battery systems will continue to be manufactured in small series. The cells - mostly NMC battery cells from China - will then be installed in just under 100,000 high-voltage packs annually, which will equip around 25,000 trucks per year. In this podcast, you'll learn about the biggest challenges MAN's customers face, how the manufacturer handles battery warranties, and most importantly: what solutions the new charging infrastructure (megawatt charging) has in store for trucks.
Links:
https://www.electrive.net/2023/06/23/bayern-foerdert-batterie-entwicklung-bei-man/
https://www.nordbayern.de/wirtschaft/warmer-regen-fur-man-in-nurnberg-25-millionen-euro-fur-entwicklung-hochmoderner-batterien-1.13361593
https://press.mantruckandbus.com/corporate/de/elektromobilitaet-man-erhaelt-foerderbescheide-fuer-die-weiterentwicklung-von-lkw--und-bus-batterien-in-nuernberg/
