Why I enjoy driving electric trucks – we discussed this and other questions with our drivers in short interviews. This time, Sandro Hebenstreit answered our questions about his fascination with electric trucks. The 31-year-old drives a Mercedes eActros 300 and has been working for the Pflaum freight forwarding company for five years.
How long have you been driving electric trucks? For 2 years.
What was your opinion of electric trucks before? I have always been very interested in e-mobility and immediately agreed to take over an electric truck.
How was the first ride? It was still a bit strange at first, and I hesitated a little. But then I immediately got hooked, and it got better with every subsequent ride.
What surprised me most? I knew that a single battery charge was enough for 300 kilometers. But in summer, it's possible to go further because no battery power is used for heating.
What do you see as the biggest differences between diesel and electric trucks? Clearly, it's the range and charging time. The quieter operation is also a difference, of course. But that means you can listen to your music better.
How do you find the acceleration and ride comfort? The ride comfort is naturally much smoother and the noise level lower. While acceleration depends on the model, an electric truck accelerates more quickly than a combustion engine truck, even fully loaded.
How does the lower noise level affect your work? Driving is more relaxed and less stressful because you don't have to constantly pay attention to engine noises.
Has driving become more relaxed or more strenuous overall? Definitely more relaxed.
How has tour planning changed? The planning has to fit the battery; you have to think differently about it.
What role does charging play in your daily work? How long does it take? What do you do during that time? Charging takes longer, so you have to factor that in and schedule corresponding time between routes. It takes about 45 minutes. I do paperwork or check social media during that time. The nice thing is that the heating or air conditioning keeps running while charging.
Were there situations where the range became a problem? Yes, it was close once; my battery was down to 6 percent. But there are only two options: make it or not, because no colleague can come by with a jerrycan if you break down.
What areas for improvement do you see in electric trucks? A pre-heater for the battery would be a good idea. Because if it's pre-heated, it charges faster. Also, the charging infrastructure could be expanded.
What do you like best about electric trucks? What's annoying? They're simply modern vehicles with modern technology. The in-cab entertainment system is great, too. And then there's the quick heating or air conditioning – a few minutes and the temperature is just right. What's annoying? Nothing about the truck itself, really, but the external service could be better. Many companies aren't yet equipped for electric mobility.
Would you voluntarily switch back to a diesel truck? Voluntarily, probably not; my boss would have to take it away from me.
What advice would you give to drivers who are supposed to switch to an electric truck, but perhaps don't want to? Just try it and don't close yourself off to the technology. It works, it's fun, and it's a great driving experience.
Read the interview with electric truck driver André Hofmann here.
