The eHighway Hessen is starting the test phase. This first route in Germany is located on the A5 motorway between Weiterstadt and Langen / Mörfelden. From now on, overhead-line hybrid trucks (OH trucks) will drive here several times daily. The trucks have a battery, an electric motor, and a diesel engine.

“The eHighway Hessen and the OH trucks represent an important step towards climate-neutral freight transport,” says Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter. Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter is Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. With this technology, the trucks can move largely emission-free – provided that the electricity comes from renewable energy sources. The truck is powered electrically using the overhead line. At the same time, the batteries are charged. As soon as the eHighway is left, the electric motor is powered by the batteries. And if these are empty, the diesel engine is available.

Project Funding of 14.6 Million €

The Federal Environment Ministry funded the construction of the project with 14.6 million euros. 15.3 million euros are still available for the test phase of the eHighway Hessen until the end of 2022. The Hessen Mobil road construction authority is responsible for coordinating the electric motorway. The Technical University of Darmstadt, Siemens Mobility GmbH and ENTEGA AG are also involved. By mid-2020, five OH trucks will be on the eHighway – the first is from the Schanz shipping company.

Such a test track is also expected to be completed in Schleswig-Holstein and Baden-Württemberg by mid- or end-of-this year.

Further information about the eHighway and the electric trucks is available on the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety’s website.

A greenValue article by Laura Vyhnal appeared on May 22, 2019.

Source: May 22, 2019, www.greenvalue.de