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Guinness record for modified Volvo FH electric truck

1099km on a single charge is the impressive record with a modified electric Volvo FH along with a cheeky couple of videos on the record; "Diesel, you have to taste it, if not, you're in the wrong place"

Three European companies involved in the transport sector have come togeter to set a Guinness World Record title for the longest distance covered by an electric truck without a recharging stop.

The triumvirate of companies setting the record were DPD Switzerland, Continental and Futuricum with the project team reaching a total of 1,099 kilometers in 23 hours.

E-truck brand Futuricum modified the base Volvo FH for package delivery company DPD Switzerland with the actual truck used for the record attempt pulled from six months of active delivery duty.

“For DPD Switzerland, we have converted a Volvo FH to an electric drive. The 19-ton truck now has over 680 hp and, with a capacity of 680 kilowatt hours, the largest truck battery in Europe on board,” says Adrian Melliger, CEO of Designwerk Products AG, the company behind the Futuricum brand. 


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Along with the massive battery pack, low rolling resistance tyres were a must with Continental providing its EfficientPro tyres for the record, which the tyre manufacturer says are designed for particularly low rolling resistance.

“The upturn in electric mobility has put an even greater focus on the importance particularly rolling resistance optimized tires,” says Hinnerk Kaiser, Head of product development truck tyres EMEA of Continental.

“Our tyres enable high mileage and extremely low rolling resistance and thus offer the essential characteristics for the economical operation of electrically powered commercial vehicles. The EfficientPro is a tried-and-tested model that has been developed especially for long-distance transportation and focuses on range and low rolling resistance.”

The location of the record was Continental’s in-house test center nicknamed the ‘Contidrom’ near Hanover, Germany, with the banked 2.8km oval providing ample space for the Futuricum truck to stretch its legs.

In total, two drivers completed 392 laps in shifts of 4.5 hours each at an average speed of 50 km/h, which the participants say mimicks the truck’s daily average.

Despite less than ideal weather conditions the record breaking partners say that it took just under 23 hours to be declared the Guinness World Record title of the longest distance covered by an electric truck without a charging stop with 1,099 kilometers driven.

“We decided to invest in electric mobility at an early stage. The Futuricum truck has been traveling between the depot in Möhlin near Basel to the distribution center in Buchs/Zurich for about six months now,” says Marc Frank, strategy & innovation director at DPD Switzerland.

“The e-truck can master the roughly 300 kilometers every day without any problems. We are proud that we have now been able to officially document our performance level.”

Check out the videos below for a tongue-in-cheek look at the record.

Hint: Videos are German language so hit the CC button for English subtitles.

 

 

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