A 19-tonne electric truck will travel up to 200 kilometres on battery power alone, then double that range by switching on a small internal combustion engine. This matters because heavy trucks face a fundamental trade-off: batteries powerful enough for long hauls are heavy and expensive, cutting into payload and profit. Current all-electric trucks struggle to serve both city centres—where zero tailpipe emissions are increasingly mandated—and the out-of-town distribution hubs that supply them. The project, a collaboration between Leyland Trucks and electric-drive specialist MAGTEC, develops a range extender system that solves this tension. The truck runs cleanly in urban areas on battery power, then uses a fuel-efficient engine for longer legs, without needing to stop for a recharge. If successful, the technology could allow fleet operators to meet tightening air quality regulations without sacrificing range or payload. For the public, this means quieter, cleaner deliveries in towns and cities, while the logistics networks that stock shops, hospitals, and construction sites keep running reliably. The project also strengthens the UK’s remaining volume truck manufacturing capability, protecting a supply chain most people never see but rely on daily.
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"The REETR \[Range Extender Electric Truck Research\] project sets out to research and develop Range Extender Electric Truck technology based on the highly successful 19 Tonne \[GVW\] DAF LF chassis. The project is a collaboration between the last UK volume truck manufacturer, Leyland trucks and MAGTEC the UK leading Electric Vehicle drive system manufacturer. Leyland Trucks is part of the PACCAR Inc. Corporation which is one of the world's major manufacturers of heavy trucks, through its DAF, Kenworth and Peterbilt brands. Increased Air Quality concerns are driving the requirement for the development of new cost effective zero tailpipe emissions technologies, which in the medium term is increasing the level of vehicle electrification. On heavier vehicles, such as trucks, the challenge of reduced energy density of batteries compared to today's diesel technology means that the vehicle driving range / payload and product cost can be compromised. So the Range Extender Electric Vehicle technology delivers the optimum solution of zero tailpipe emissions in the centre of town and city then the range extender feature will allow it to operate from ""out of town"" distribution centres The project sets out to deliver between 160km and 200km electric only driving and with the IC engine operating this range would approximately double without refuelling. It is planned to deliver a cost effective package of technology which is energy efficient to maximise the electric range on the minimum amount of battery storage. This will be achieved by the development of a new overall system controller, component design and regeneration control."
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