Ewals Cargo Care takes first step with electric truck
Our first electric truck
We have achieved a significant milestone with the launch of our first fully electric truck. The electric MAN vehicle was recently revealed at Traffic Port Maasbree and will be used on specific routes during a pilot phase. This move will allow us to gain practical experience with electric transportation and to assess how to incorporate it into a dependable, expandable logistics system.
Learning by doing
Electrification plays a crucial role in the evolution of the transport sector. Although electric passenger cars have been widely used for some time, heavy-duty transport presents unique challenges, from vehicle range and infrastructure to operational planning. For us, this initial electric truck is about gradually gaining knowledge and experience, not immediate diesel replacement.
“Electric transport is clearly part of the future,” says Bram Ewals. “Now we can see how it performs in daily operations and how it fits into our broader network and long-term plans.”
The truck is equipped with multiple battery packs, providing a range ideal for shorter routes. These play an increasingly important role in Ewals Cargo Care’s multimodal network, alongside rail and short-sea solutions.
Benefits for drivers and operations
Electric trucks offer new operational benefits, being quiet, powerful, and comfortable to drive, especially in urban and regional traffic.
“The driving experience is completely different,” explains Joep Everts. “The truck is smooth, quiet and has a lot of pulling power. That makes it pleasant to drive and well-suited for distribution and regional transport.”
At the same time, electric trucks require a different approach to planning, energy use, and infrastructure. These insights are exactly what Ewals Cargo Care aims to develop during this first phase.
Part of a broader sustainability strategy
The introduction of electric trucking fits into Ewals Cargo Care’s wider ambition to reduce CO₂ emissions across its transport solutions. This includes a smart mix of modalities and technologies, such as intermodal transport, more efficient vehicle combinations, and alternative fuels.
Rather than relying on a single solution, we believe in combining the strengths of different approaches to move goods in the most responsible way possible.
“This is about balance,” Bram Ewals adds. “Electric, rail, short sea and conventional transport all have a role to play. By combining them in the right way, we can continue to improve our footprint while staying reliable for our customers.”
Looking ahead
The launch of this first electric truck marks the start of a learning process. As technology develops, infrastructure expands, and market conditions evolve, electric transport is expected to play an increasingly important role in logistics.
For us, this milestone reflects a clear mindset: move forward thoughtfully, stay close to real operations, and keep building sustainable transport solutions together with customers and partners.
