[{"q": "How much does an electric truck cost per kilometre?", "a": "In the standard profile (120,000 km/year, 5 years, depot charging) the TCO of a 40-tonne electric truck is around €0.90/km, versus €1.16/km for diesel – including purchase, energy, tolls, maintenance, insurance and residual value. Energy alone costs about €32/100 km electric compared with €84/100 km for diesel including tolls."}, {"q": "Is an electric truck worth it in 2026?", "a": "For plannable routes up to 450 km with your own depot charger: yes, under the Hub's assumptions from a holding period of two years. The drivers are the diesel price (€2.40/l), the toll exemption until 2031 and the e-truck's residual value, which remains the biggest uncertainty."}, {"q": "How far can an electric truck go?", "a": "According to manufacturers, 2026 series models manage 450–600 km at 40 tonnes: Mercedes eActros 600 up to 500 km (621 kWh), MAN eTGX up to 660 km (552 kWh), Volvo FH Aero Electric up to 600 km (780 kWh), Scania 45 R BEV 400–530 km. Winter, load and terrain cost 15–30% in real-world use."}, {"q": "How much does the Mercedes eActros 600 cost?", "a": "Mercedes-Benz publishes no list price; based on market observation, offers are around €280–320k net depending on specification (estimate). For comparison: an Actros L diesel is €110–130k. The difference is recovered through tolls (€0 until 2031), energy and accelerated depreciation."}, {"q": "Are electric trucks exempt from tolls?", "a": "Yes. Zero-emission trucks pay no HGV toll in Germany until 30 June 2031. A Euro VI diesel articulated truck pays 34.8 ct/km, of which 15.8 ct is the CO₂ component – around €35,000 a year on 100,000 tolled kilometres."}, {"q": "What incentives are there for electric trucks in 2026?", "a": "No more federal purchase grant. What remains: toll exemption until 2031, 75% special depreciation in the year of purchase (bought by the end of 2027), vehicle tax exemption until 2035 and the THG quota (German GHG credit) at an estimated €3–6k per year. Regional programmes need to be checked individually."}, {"q": "How much does electricity for electric trucks cost per kWh?", "a": "Wholesale electricity is around 8 ct/kWh in 2026; at the depot, grid fees and levies come on top: realistically 24 ct/kWh net, or 12–20 ct with a dynamic tariff. Public truck fast charging costs 38–60 ct/kWh net."}, {"q": "How is the residual value of electric trucks developing?", "a": "The used market for heavy e-trucks is young; reliable residual-value curves don't exist yet. The Hub conservatively assumes 22% after 5 years versus 30% for diesel. In the standard profile, 5 percentage points of residual value shift the break-even by only a few months; when the case is tight (high electricity price, low mileage) by a year or more – residual value remains the single most important lever."}, {"q": "Is a hydrogen truck worth it?", "a": "Only with a supply contract. Public hydrogen costs around €12.85/kg (April 2026); at 8.5 kg/100 km that's about €109/100 km – more than diesel. With a contract price of ~€8/kg (hylane/H2 Mobility since January 2026) that drops to €68/100 km, toll-free until 2031. Vehicles (Mercedes NextGenH2, MAN hTGX, Hyundai Xcient) are small-series; leasing is more common than buying."}, {"q": "What does an e-trailer (eTrailer) deliver?", "a": "Behind a diesel tractor unit, an e-trailer with its own e-axle and a 300–600 kWh battery cuts consumption by 40% on average (field trials: DB Schenker 24–55%, BMW Logistics 48%). Behind an e-truck it adds up to 500 km of range. It charges overnight at the depot and works with any make of tractor – the interim step for existing fleets that don't want to replace the tractor unit yet."}, {"q": "How long does a Hamburg–Munich trip take in an e-truck?", "a": "Around 800 km. An eActros 600 with MCS needs about one charging stop of 35–45 minutes (e.g. Aral pulse Schnaittach on the A9, 1 MW), which falls within the mandatory break, plus a second break – so practically no extra time compared with diesel. Without MCS (CCS 400 kW only) that becomes 60–90 minutes of charging."}, {"q": "What were the key highlights of IAA Transportation 2026?", "a": "For fleet decision-makers: MAN eTGX with 552–644 kWh and 660–720 km of range, Volvo FH Aero Electric / Renault E-Tech T with 780 kWh, Mercedes eActros 600 as a mega tractor unit and the NextGenH2 with over 1,000 km as a small series. Plus new diesel drivetrains at Daimler and MAN, megawatt charging as a demonstration, the launch of the federal fast-charging network with 836 charging points and the market entry of Chinese manufacturers (BYD, Windrose, Farizon, Sany, Sinotruk)."}, {"q": "When should I sell my diesel truck?", "a": "As long as diesel accounts for 92% of new registrations and the charging network is patchy, residual values of good Euro VI vehicles are holding up. If you want to go electric in 2027/28, you're better off selling the diesel before the second generation of e-trucks ramps up – a vetted dealer network like truckoo lets you check the market price across Europe."}]
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