Logistics firm Ihro is transitioning its fleet to electric vehicles, starting with the integration of 15 MAN eTGX trucks. The company, which operates over 200 lorries, selected these models specifically for their lowliner configuration, essential for automotive logistics requiring a three-metre loading height.
The company has been testing electric solutions since 2016, including a Terberg tractor unit and two MAN pre-series vehicles deployed in March 2025. These trucks demonstrate ranges exceeding 500 km under light loads, with daily round trips of 430 to 440 km leaving approximately 20 per cent battery capacity.
Ihro is investing €1.5 million in private charging infrastructure, including five 400 kW fast-chargers and one 700 kW megawatt charger. The firm has applied for state funding from Baden-Wurttemberg to cover 15 per cent of these costs, while also expanding on-site photovoltaic systems and a one-megawatt battery storage unit.
Past experiences with alternative fuels influenced this shift. The company reported that five CNG trucks became unusable due to a lack of refuelling stations, while 15 LNG trucks acquired since 2021 suffered from technical defects and volatile fuel prices, which spiked from €1 to €5 per kilogram.
Management views battery-electric trucks as the only viable path, dismissing hydrogen due to infrastructure concerns. While the company currently limits electric trucks to fixed routes due to charging constraints, it plans to increase the pace of electrification annually to meet growing customer demand for emissions-free transport.
