DPD Switzerland, Futuricum and Continental set an example for e-mobility in the transport sector with a world record

August 31, 2021 – With Europe’s highest-capacity electric truck, the three partners DPD Switzerland, Continental and Futuricum have set the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title in the longest distance driven by an e-truck without intermediate charging. In total, the project team reached 1,099 kilometers in 23 hours.

Logistics service provider DPD Switzerland, e-truck Futuricum and premium tire manufacturer Continental have secured the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the longest distance driven by an electric truck without intermediate charging, with a total of 1,099 kilometers. For the record, the partners used an e-truck that has already been in use in delivery traffic for six months, proving that sustainable, energy- and cost-efficient electromobility in the transport industry is not a mobility concept of tomorrow but already a reality on Europe’s roads today.

Record vehicle with high-capacity battery and efficient tires

A Futuricum truck, which is used for regional transport for DPD Switzerland, was used for the record. “For DPD Switzerland, we converted a Volvo FH to an e-drive. Now the 19-ton truck has over 680 hp and, with a capacity of 680 kilowatt hours, the largest truck battery in Europe on board,” explains Adrian Melliger, Managing Director of Designwerk Products AG, the company behind the Futuricum brand.
The three partners also opted for Continental’s EfficientPro tires, which are designed for particularly low rolling resistance. “The upswing in electromobility has brought the importance of tires that are particularly optimized for rolling resistance into sharper focus,” says Hinnerk Kaiser, Head of Tire Development Bus and Truck Tires at Continental. “Our truck tires offer high mileage and extremely low rolling resistance. These are the essential properties for the economical operation of electrically powered commercial vehicles. The EfficientPro is a proven model developed in particular for long-distance transport, with a focus on range and low rolling resistance.”

In 23 hours and with 392 laps of 1,099 kilometers

The partners found the best record-breaking conditions near Hanover on the high-speed oval of the Contidrom, Continental’s in-house test track. It is a 2.8 kilometer long oval test track. In total, two drivers completed 392 laps in shifts of 4.5 hours each at an average speed of 50 km/h, which is a realistic average value in everyday use. The weather conditions were not ideal at the beginning 14 degrees outside temperature and only about 23 degrees ground temperature. In addition, the wind blew with an average of 18 km/h and gusts of up to 40 km/h. And yet, after almost 23 hours, the partners were able to proclaim the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title of longest distance driven by an electric truck without intermediate charging with 1,099 kilometers driven.

Performance officially documented

With the record, the partners have set a joint signal for a future with sustainable drives in delivery traffic and demonstrated the everyday suitability of today’s technologies: “We decided early on to invest in electromobility. The Futuricum truck has now been traveling between the depot in Möhlin near Basel to the distribution center in Buchs Zurich for around six months,” says Marc Frank, Strategy & Innovation Director at DPD Switzerland. “The e-truck masters the daily distance of around 300 kilometers without any problems. We are proud that we have now been able to officially document its performance.”