Electric snow plow put to the test: What if the best winter service doesn’t need diesel at all?

Can an electric snow plow do what no one believes it can do?

Electromobility is advancing everywhere. The economic and ecological benefits of electric drives are also being increasingly appreciated in traditional transport logistics. The situation is different for commercial vehicles for special applications. There is often a lack of trust and reliable total cost calculations. Our example shows that there is another way.

It was still dark when the team from Designwerk gathered at the foot of the snow-covered Alpine pass in March 2025. The air was cold, the snow was knee-high and the challenge was unusual. Their goal was clear, but daring: to master a route with an electric snowplough that would push even high-performance diesel machines to their limits.

At the center of attention: the electric truck “Mid Cab 8x4R Snow Plow” from Designwerk, which on this March morning was not only up against heavy snow, but also against doubt, cold and physical limits. Clearing snow at altitudes between 1500 and 2200 meters with maximum stress for man and machine. What followed was a test that eclipsed even the endurance test of the prototype for this vehicle in Norway from the previous year – and thus opened a new chapter for winter service.

Why are we writing about snow plows in summer?
For many, summer is a time of warmth and vacations, and thoughts certainly don’t revolve around snow. For road maintenance companies, summer is the time for preparation. Because what proves its worth in winter begins months in advance – in planning, testing and technology.

The story of our endurance test is therefore not a review of the past, but a look ahead to next winter – and to what awaits us if highway maintenance authorities and those responsible for road maintenance or clearing airport runways set the right course today.

The meeting of the giants: Swiss electric truck meets Swiss force of nature
The electric snow plough from Designwerk was launched with state-of-the-art equipment: front and side blade from Zaugg, spreader body from Aebi Schmidt and a hook system from Mobas for flexible use of the electric utility vehicle outside of the winter season. All experts in their fields and therefore the right choice for this superlative electric utility vehicle.

What makes this vehicle so special? No other electric truck manufacturer offers a 4-axle vehicle with two steerable axles and such a high battery capacity. With an installed capacity of 763 kWh and 648 kWh of usable energy, this vehicle is the first real alternative to conventional diesel drives for demanding winter service operations.

What is the purpose of this test?
After the initial experiences from last year’s endurance test in Norway and the winter service at the beginning of 2025, the team at Designwerk wanted to know where the limits of the electric truck lie: can a fully electric truck survive under extreme conditions?
We sought and found the answer on 11 km of a Swiss Alpine pass. In wet snow with an average height of 35 cm, some of which reached over the clearing edge and had a density of 600 to 700 kg /^m3. With a maximum gradient of the Alpine pass of up to 11 percent and an average gradient of just under 6.4 percent. With an ascent from 1500 to 2200 meters above sea level. Not exactly the typical highway or the classic airport taxiway.

Hot challenges on ice
The focus was on two points: firstly, converting the enormous power of the electric motors into propulsion in a controlled manner without losing traction. Secondly, to learn how the motors can cope with high operating temperatures despite high continuous loads. This showed how well thermal management and drive control have to work together.

Surprising results
Although the vehicle was designed for much less extreme applications, it was able to cope with snow volumes that far exceeded the norm. The electric 4-axle vehicle – the Designwerk Mid-Cab 8×4R cleared around 21175^m3 of snow at an average clearing speed of 15 km/h and in almost knee-high snow conditions (on average around 35 centimetres). The weight of this wet, heavy mass of snow with a snow density of between 600 and 700 ^kg/m3 adds up to more than 13,000 tons of snow. This is equivalent to the payload of 520 fully loaded 40-tonne articulated lorries.

This puts it on a par with professional broaching systems, such as those used at airports.

These quantities and weights naturally have a corresponding effect on consumption. Over the 11 km, the vehicle consumed an average of over 1000 kWh/100 km. Over the last five kilometers, it even averaged around 1500 kWh/100 km. Taking into account the significantly poorer efficiency of diesel fuel, this would be a purely mathematical figure of 429 liters of diesel consumption per 100 km (approx. 3.5 kWh per liter of diesel).
This shows how extremely the test conditions were influenced by the gradient and snow masses. In regular operations, the consumption for light snow clearing is around 180 kWh / 100 km, i.e. one sixth of the test values, and 340 kWh / 100 km for heavy-duty operations. The ranges are then between 190 and 360 km.
With peak values of up to 500 kW, the vehicle delivered significantly more than the 300 kW required for everyday use in demanding passages. In comparison: In long-distance traffic on the road, hardly more than 100 kW of power is required.

The findings of the electric snow plough test on Alpine roads are very valuable for us: they are directly incorporated into the development of the new 800-volt platform at Designwerk. The aim is to fine-tune the overall drive control and thermal management system even better.
What remains is the image of an electric giant milling its way through mountains of snow.

Emotion meets technology
Designwerk Co-founder Tobias Wülser gets emotional when he looks at the pictures: “It was more than just a test. It was a statement. Electromobility is not a fair-weather friend. It also delivers when the going gets tough. It was a moment of pride for the team at Designwerk. We are proud to be able to meet the high requirements in special applications with unique solutions and thus make a contribution to the decarbonization of the transport sector. “

With the endurance test, Designwerk shows that electric commercial vehicles are now ready for even the most demanding municipal and industrial applications. Airports and alpine regions in particular benefit from the emission-free, high-performance systems – and can thus combine climate targets with operational safety.

What remains is a good feeling, the motivation to become even better and a signal. The turnaround is possible. Even in the snow.

What began in snowy silence could be the prelude to a silent revolution – where gigantic forces collide. Exhaust-free, high torque and the forces of snow, demanding terrain and nasty weather conditions. The technology is ready. The forces are ready. And the winter? It can wait a little longer.

Infobox: Electric winter service vehicle
Designwerk Mid Cab 8x4R Snow Plow:

• Thermally insulated batteries for ultra-low temperatures
• Fast charging with MCS in 0.7 hours to 80 % SoC with battery set 750 – not yet active
• Unique chassis configuration: two steerable axles plus large capacity
• Total weight: 34,000 kg
• Installed battery capacity: 763 kWh
• Usable battery capacity: 648 kWh