Reading time 9 min
16. July 2025
The logistics company Elflein is one of the pioneers of sustainable transport logistics. For over a year, three electric trucks from Designwerk have been in daily use as lowliners – with demanding routes and transport goods. An interview provides insights into the challenges, findings and potential. The conclusion: electric is possible – and reliable.
The Bamberg-based family business Elflein specializes in sophisticated logistics services for the automotive, paper and food industries. For the traditional yet innovative transport and logistics company, one thing was clear: if you want to help shape the mobility of the future, you have to gather your own experience. Elflein, which operates throughout Europe, opted for low-emission solutions at an early stage. A quarter of its fleet of around 450 vehicles transport goods using sustainable drive systems. Today, this includes three electric trucks from Designwerk.
Marco Schubert, Key Account & E-Mobility Manager at Elflein, and Ewald Weinhold, Key Account Manager for e-trucks at Designwerk, explain the challenges overcome, the technical insights gained and how drivers and fleet management deal with the new technology.
Ewald Weinhold (Designwerk): Marco, it’s now just over a year since you put three of our all-electric lowliners into operation at Elflein. How did you perceive this first step towards electric volume transportation – what was it like for you? Marco Schubert (Elflein): It was a conscious decision for us – both strategically and operationally. We didn’t just want to wait until the technology was ready or until it had become established – we wanted to help shape it right from the start. Precisely because electric volume transportation has so many special features, it was important for us to gain our own experience early on. Today, the vehicles are an integral part of our fleet and they perform their tasks reliably.
EW: Of course we are delighted. Elflein is one of the pioneers in the field of all-electric volume transportation. Which routes do you mainly operate with the vehicles – and for which customers?
MS: We use the electric tractor units on routes in the automotive sector, each with clearly defined loading profiles. Two of the three trucks commute between Mühlacker and Zuffenhausen, and between Leipzig and Schkeuditz. The third e-truck is on the route between Eching and Munich. All trucks transport vehicle components for assembly, such as body shells or body and side panels. The load weight can go up to 21 tons.
EW: That is a very interesting application profile – especially because you are on the road with mega trailers. The project with Elflein was also a pioneering step for us: you are one of the first customers to use the lowliners with our LFP batteries on a daily basis. This has also provided us with many important insights.
MS: What are they?
EW: For example, we were able to further develop our vehicle software thanks to your feedback from the field – in terms of energy management, for example. We have also realized that LFP batteries are absolutely essential for low-liners with this type of route profile due to their cycle stability. Other applications will also benefit, which is why we will be launching another LFP battery derivative within the next 12 months. Although the energy density is still lower than that of NMC batteries – which is why Designwerk is still committed to a dual strategy – no other LFP battery on the market will be able to keep up in terms of battery capacity per kilogram.
MS: We took a very cooperative approach to working with you right from the start – precisely because we wanted to achieve real practicality.
EW: Your feedback during this phase was worth its weight in gold! It gave us a better understanding of the applications and enabled us to steer our development process accordingly. For example, we are currently working on evaluating the data collected by the vehicles using big data algorithms and building a route planner on this basis – real added value with the potential to minimize hurdles.
MS: That would indeed be a great help. However, our drivers have already learned how to handle ranges well. Our drivers are now professionals in energy management.
EW: How was the start for your drivers?
MS: Initially, there was respect for “the new guy”. But after the first few weeks, that subsided. Most drivers appreciate the smooth driving experience and the uncomplicated operation. Of course, the handling is different – quieter, more direct, more relaxed. And you simply have to factor the range into your tour planning.
EW: What is the typical route profile of your e-vehicles?
MS: Realistically, we achieve a maximum range of 160 kilometers. The average consumption is 115 to 120 kWh per 100 kilometers. The charging time depends largely on the available charging infrastructure. If the charging capacity is low, we generally charge the e-trucks overnight so that they are ready for use the next morning. A full charge under these conditions takes around 3.5 to 4.5 hours. I think this is also the biggest challenge: the charging infrastructure. Although some of our own charging facilities are available, charging on the road is often difficult because suitable stations are only available to a limited extent.
EW: We are aware of the problem and are currently seeing a very positive development in the truck charging infrastructure in Germany. Milence, Aral, Shell and EON are currently expanding the public charging infrastructure specially developed for N3 vehicles. Of course, there needs to be a rethink – the vehicles and their routes need to be planned differently to their diesel counterparts, but they significantly reduce CO2 emissions and running costs. In my opinion, the biggest challenge lies not in the vehicles, not in the charging infrastructure, but in our minds.We need to rethink.
MS: Thank you Ewald, that also strengthens us in our way of thinking and our approach. Overall, we are very satisfied with your vehicles. We are happy to have taken an important step towards sustainable mobility together with Designwerk.
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