UK– The 2024 Road Transport Expo (RTX) took place from 4-6 June at the NAEC Stoneleigh, in Warwickshire, UK. This blue-chip UK truck show brought hundreds of exhibitors, fleet operators, policymakers, members of the public and of course, the T&BB team.

All the major European truck OEMs were there demonstrating new electric heavy-duty truck models. Many were new products (in the UK) in series production, and others were prototype models. MAN Truck & Bus unveiled its electric 4X2 long-distance truck (eTGX) and DAF Trucks did the same with its XB Electric. Renault Trucks had its E-Tech T and C models on display, whilst the Mercedes Benz eActros 600 long-haul battery-electric tractor unit finally made its UK debut.

Whilst there are UK government subsidies for the procurement of zero-emission transportation technology, it is nothing compared with the billions of dollars of federal funding available in the U.S., through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Thus, the question remains, how will UK fleet operators be incentivised to procure these electric HGVs which are often more than double the price of their diesel equivalents?

In order to mitigate the high upfront cost of procuring these electric vehicles, the OEMs have been proactive in developing a “360-degree solutions” package for attracting potential customers. This package includes a full “turnkey solution” involving consultation, route planning, vehicle financing/leasing, charging infrastructure (installation, management and maintenance), driver training, servicing & maintenance and insurance, providing customers with everything they need to operate an electric vehicle.

Another marketing tool is the promise of “fleet telematics & digital solutions” driving fleet efficiency and lowering Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). This is where the tyre manufacturers have become increasingly proactive. The message from the likes of Continental, Goodyear, Bridgestone and Michelin was evident, and to remain “premium brands”, the companies have been investing heavily in driving fleet efficiency through digitalisation services. The philosophy: to develop an ecosystem rather than standalone products. A key to this has been equipping new tyres with sensors, that feed data back into a telematics app that monitors tyre condition, pressure, tread depth and tyre history. These platforms allow every tyre to be tracked individually allowing operators to schedule tyre maintenance and better manage tyre replacement more cost-effectively. This, again, is based on improving tyre and vehicle efficiency for operators by minimising downtime through predictive maintenance. 

RTX Entrance

Trucks

Kicking off with the electric 4X2 long-distance TGX truck from MAN Truck & Bus UK Ltd, representatives from the company told us that the order book is open, with the truck now in series production at the MAN plant in Munich. Roger Turnbull, Head of EV Truck Sales at MAN UK was on hand to provide potential customers advice on choosing the correct vehicle configuration for their specific business needs. This falls under MAN’s ‘360 Degree eMobility Consulting’ service which also includes route analysis, charging infrastructure and fleet telematics services.

The ‘eTGX’ (and ‘eTGS’) are a continuation of the longstanding TG-range of trucks, with electric drivelines that will reportedly deliver up to 800 kilometres of range, as a result of six battery packs (NMC) that provide a total capacity of 480 kWh. The number of battery packs is customisable. The company further announced an expansion in the range of configurations available to customers, with over one million variants available.

In terms of the electric powertrain, specifically its electric drive unit, the customer may choose between three power ratings: 333 hp/254 kW, 449 hp/330 kW, or 544 hp/400 kW, with maximum torque ratings of 800, 1,150, or 1,250 Nm respectively. Depending on the power output, the transmission will come either as a 2-speed or a 4-speed. The electric drive system is centrally placed, as shown in the diagram below.

The MAN e-trucks come with CCS charging up to 375 kW as standard, with a charging port on each side of the truck (either behind the front wheel arch or on the right-hand side of the frame at the rear). Customers may choose instead to replace one of these ports with a megawatt charging standard (MCS) one for charging (initially) up to 750 kW.

MAN eTGX truck

The new DAF Trucks NV XB Electric 19-tonne GVW rigid was another e-truck making its UK show debut. Also available in 12 and 16 tonne variations, representatives from DAF Trucks UK Ltd of Thame, were on hand to explain that the product is currently in series production in Eindhoven, and due to production delays, the UK subsidiary has had to wait to get the first few products into the country.

The 19 tonnes variant on display is equipped with a 190kW e-motor via a cobalt and magnesium-free, lithium iron phosphate (LFP – Lithium Ferro Phosphate) 210kWh battery (282kWh battery available) pack. This allows the XB Electric ranges of up to 350 kms on a single charge.

The XB Electric also features advanced driver assistance systems, including the AEBS (Advanced Emergency Braking System), Turn Assist to detect cyclists in blind spots, Drowsiness Detection, Speed Limit Recognition, and Lane Change Assist. The company is also offering comprehensive support with charging advice, route planning and training services for drivers.

DAF XB Electric

Renault Trucks UK had both its new battery electric heavy trucks on the stand, the E-Tech T and C. The  ‘T’ truck is for regional haulage whilst the ‘C’ model, has been designed for construction applications. Both models are currently in series production at the company’s facility in Bourg-en-Bresse, France. 

We met Carlos Rodrigues (Managing Director of Renault Trucks UK) who explained that both vehicles are fitted with 2-3 electric motors, which provide a total power output of 490 kW and an OptiDriver gearbox. 2-6 battery packs provide an overall energy capacity of up to 540 kWh, meaning the trucks will have a range of up to 300 kms on a single charge. Recharging may take up to 9.5 hours, or 2.5 hours with fast charging. Three types of power take-off is available: either electric, electromechanical, or on the gearbox. The vehicles are available as 4x2 and 6x2 tractor units or as 4x2, 6x2 and 8x2 tridem rigids. 

Renault E-Tech T

With series production in Wörth, Germany slated for Q4, 2024, the Mercedes Benz eActros 600 made its UK show debut. Representatives told us that the order book is now open, with the first vehicles expected on UK roads sometime next year. With a gross combination weight of 44 tonnes, the vehicle can do 500km on a single charge. The LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery pack consists of three 207 KWH batteries providing a capacity of 621 KWH (600 KWH usable) designed to cover a total of 1.2 million kilometres in its lifespan. Batteries charged at 20% of capacity take 30 minutes to reach 80% charge, it added. More than 80 percent CO2 savings are possible compared to diesel trucks over the entire life cycle. The ‘e-axle,’ which is designed in-house, has two electric motors which produce a power output of 400kW and a peak output of over 600 kW, coupled with a four-speed transmission specifically for use in heavy-duty long-haul transport.

A new cab design promises to deliver more aerodynamic performance than the eActros 300 and 400. New ABA 6 safety and performance features such as predictive power drive control predict the geography of the road helping avoid unnecessary braking and acceleration. Prototypes are currently being tested with select customers and there are signed letters of intent from customers for thousands of eActros 600 vehicles, according to CEO Karin Rådström.

eActros 600

With news of tests, trials and a prototype build in Silverstone, Northamptonshire, Scottish start-up manufacturer Hydrogen Vehicle Systems Ltd (HVS) used RTX to announce a new deal to supply 30 fuel cell HGVs to UK logistics company, Explore Plant & Transport Solutions. Furthermore, the agreement encompasses a maintenance, servicing and driver training (safe use of hydrogen) contract.

In conjunction with prototype build partners, HSSMI* and Fablink**, the company has begun attribute prototype (AP) manufacturing at a specialist 18,000sq ft building in Silverstone, owned and operated by Fablink. The specialist facility offers HVS complete build capabilities encompassing a complex toolroom ensuring quality design and prototyping. Each of the prototypes will be used to test specific aspects of the vehicle’s strength, durability and efficiency. This is part of HVS’s development programme and brings the company one step closer to bringing its HFC HGV to market.

In a statement, HVS said “It has completed the initial build of the first of the prototype rigs at the Silverstone site, which will shortly be despatched to UTAC (Millbrook, Bedford) for the initial rig testing. The build of several other APs is now underway.”

*HSSMI is a sustainable manufacturing innovation consultancy that works with companies to support them in increasing productivity, upscaling production, and integrating circular economy-based practices, with the ultimate goal of moving towards net-zero.

**UK based Tier 1 supplier established in 2005, provides a comprehensive range of manufacturing services. The organisation specialises in development engineering and technology, pressing and components manufacture, complex structure assembly, pre-treatment and surface coatings, trim & final assembly, as well as supply chain management. The expansive service portfolio allows Fablink to also offer complete vehicle assembly. There is a long-term partnership between HVS and Fablink, with Fablink providing the manufacturing of cab structures, chassis and assembly services.

Tyre Manufacturers

The show brought all the major tyre manufacturers, all driving home smart tyre solutions as part of their “digital solutions” services.

This was seen on the Michelin Tyre Plc (subsidiary of the Michelin Group) stand, who used the show to announce that the Smart Predictive Tyre feature has been added to the MICHELIN Connected Fleet suite of digital services, now available in the UK. The system monitors tyre pressure (TPMS), wear and degradation using smart sensors to provide alerts (telematics data) in real-time that help fleet operators improve safety and efficiency, specifically regarding scheduled maintenance. Furthermore, Smart Predictive Tyre produces a weekly “smart report” on fleet tyres with recommendations for maintenance to minimise vehicle downtime and ensure operators are using the most optimal tyres maximising efficiency and performance. The system was first piloted in Spain and then quickly rolled out to Portugal and France.

This all falls under Michelin Connected Mobility service incorporating tyre procurement, maintenance, vehicle tracking, driver behaviour monitoring, incident management, fleet telematics and a host of other digital management tools. The French company’s “turnkey” service comprises four separate offerings, provided in a single package. Through Connected Mobility, customers can (1) procure new tyres; (2) access services to maintain and optimise their tyres; (3) use Michelin’s fleet management platform, called ‘Connected Fleet’; and (4) use the new digital tool called ‘Smart Predictive Tyre’. 

Michelin stand at RTX

Japanese tyre manufacturer Bridgestone Corporation, debuted its new-generation long-haul HGV truck tyre range in the UK (Ecopia Enliten). The company said this tyre range has been developed to maximise fleet efficiency through enhanced wear and reduced rolling resistance, year-round. Available in 315/70 R22.5 in the UK, four additional sizes will be added by the end of the year and one further size in 2025. Bridgestone will add the Ecopia Enliten trailer tyre in Q4 2024. These tyres are produced in Stargard, Poland and Bilbao, Spain.

Bridgestone stand at RTX 2024

The Ecopia design incorporates new innovations, including high-performance compounds and low-energy pattern designs focused on fuel efficiency. A lightweight casing and a new spiral-belt construction increase cornering power and optimise pressure distribution to improve wear life. These innovations cut costs and CO2 emissions, while giving it an EU-label A-grade certification with a 10% rolling resistance reduction compared to previous generations. The tyre also features an EU-label B for wet grip and a 3PMSF marking, meaning that the tyre is suitable in all seasons. The tyre range is equipped with RFID, meaning it is ready to be fitted with tyre-mounted sensors. 

The stand also featured the Bandag (Bridgestone subsidiary) “Hotread range” of retreaded tyres, manufactured from its Bourne-based Bulldog plant. These retreads offer cost savings by extending the warranty life and performance of new premium tyres.

Continuing on the strand of digital solutions from the tyre manufacturers at the RTX show, the company presented “Bridgestone Mobility Solutions” which is integrated with the “Bridgestone Fleetcare” package. This encompasses fleet management needs from procurement, maintenance, tyre pressure monitoring, and incident management, fleet telematics and numerous other digital management tools optimising tyre/vehicle efficiency, decreasing vehicle downtime and ultimately increasing total cost of ownership (TCO) for operators.

Bridgestone Ecopia Enlighten

Attendees at the Goodyear Operations SA  stand had the opportunity to see the new sustainable-material demonstration truck tyre, comprising 63% sustainable material. This project is in line with the company’s commitment to increase its use of sustainable materials in its next-generation product range. The sustainable-material demonstration truck tyre used 15 sustainable ingredients across 20 tyre components and was manufactured with four different carbon blacks sourced from plant-based oils rather than crude oil. The R&D team in Brussels and Luxemburg have been managing the development of this sustainable tyre, whilst trying to bridge the gap between increasing rolling resistance and increased mileage.

Besides this demonstration tyre, Goodyear displayed its Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) as well as its drive-over tyre inspection system that reads tyre condition, known as CheckPoint. This all-forms part of Goodyear’s Total Mobility solutions that integrate web and mobile applications to its existing product range, to maximise fleet efficiency, and productivity and ultimately reduce the TCO for fleet operators.

Goodyear new sustainable-material demonstration truck tyre

Continental AG  made its third consecutive appearance at RTX. The Conti stand featured a full range of Conti CV tyres as well as from its subsidiaries Bandvulc Tyres Ltd (Continental’s UK retread tyre subsidiary) and Uniroyal. The latter’s tyre range has been developed for mixed applications, with the highway line designed for both long-distance and regional transportation benefiting from optimised tread patterns.

T&BB spoke to Ian Jackson, the digital and fleet solutions manager for Conti UK. Jackson confirmed that by the end of the year, the smart sensors embedded in the new CV tyre range will have a new feature, accurate automated tread depth monitoring.

Continental’s fleet experts and engineers were on hand to help identify cost-saving opportunities for fleet customers of all sizes by driving efficiency and ultimately TCO. Conti drove the message of “Your Trusted Fleet Partner” which, involves aftermarket fleet management services like Conti 360 Solutions and ContiConnect.

For our full interview with Steve Howat, General Manager of Technical Services at Continental UK, click here.

Conti UK team at RTX

The Prometeon Tyre Group displayed the R02 Pro Trailer tyre, which for the very first time, is the Group’s first tyre to carry exclusively the Prometeon brand name. Designed for all roads and all seasons, the tyre is based on the new 02 Series tyre, which has been developed 100% by engineers at Prometeon. The engineers have used a mix of legacy Pirelli engineering knowledge and new techniques and technologies developed by Prometeon engineers since the formation of the company, following its spin-off by Pirelli, seven years ago.

Prometeon personnel at RTX explained that the R02 Pro Trailer all-round tyre has a completely new tread design and uses an innovative compound to ensure low rolling resistance and high durability. The R02 Series tyre also features a new reinforced casing construction offering increased load capacity of up to 10 tonnes.

Trailers

Moving onto the trailer segment, Don-Bur Bodies & Trailers Ltd, based in Stoke-on-Trent, debuted its new lifting deck trailer. Purpose-built for British retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S), the retailer ordered 44 of these products.  Richard Owens, Technical Support Specialist & Marketing Manager at Don-Bur told us that the design focused on three elements: safety, capacity and versatility. Starting with safety features, the product features a landing leg safety system, which alerts the driver if the legs are not lowered during de-coupling preventing trailer damage. The trailer also comes with a “deck talk” feature that provides verbal feedback to the driver when the upper deck is moving. Furthermore, the LowGlide coupling feature allows the driver to couple from the ground level, eliminating risks associated with climbing onto the catwalk. Finally, the downlighters enhance visibility around the trailer reducing the risk of accidents.

The lifting deck trailer has been designed to maximise cargo space in order to transport a range of different-sized goods (clothing and ambient freight). The upper deck has a usable load width of 2.44 metres, with space for “three additional dollies or two extra cages”. A 3.3-metre pneumatic ramp allows drivers easy access from the lower deck to the wan-neck area.

Don-Bur lifting deck trailer for M&S

Carrier Transicold Europe launched its new refrigerated trailer, the Vector HE 17. This product has been designed for use in refrigerated urban delivery vehicles, building on the company’s Vector High Efficiency (HE) range. Representatives from Carrier said that the Vector HE 17 offers refrigeration capacity output at 16kW coupled with a significant reduction in both noise levels (by 50%) and fuel consumption (by 30%) compared to the Vector 1550.  This is as a result of integrating advanced inverter technology with its E-Drive power module which drives operational efficiency and therefore decreases the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for fleet operators. The inverter technology adapts the compressor speed to meet the cooling demand.

Furthermore, the trailer is equipped with a telematics box linked to Carrier Transicold’s Lynx fleet telematics digital platform, helping operators track and monitor their cold chain supply chains.

Victor Calvo, Vice President & General Manager, International Truck & Trailer at Carrier Transicold said:

The Vector HE 17 positions itself as a versatile solution, the ideal fit for long-haul transportation and urban deliveries, providing our customers access to a more efficient and sustainable trailer solution. The system incorporates Carrier Transicold's E-Drive technology, a key technology of the company and constantly improved since 1999, which has revolutionised the semi-trailer segment by removing the need for the mechanical transmissions found in belt-driven refrigeration systems and converting engine power into electricity to drive the unit.

Vector HE 17 at RTX

Other News

We spoke with representatives from BP Pulse, the EV charging brand owned and operated by British multinational oil and gas company, BP plc, who outlined its plans for building a truck charging/refuelling network across the country. These hubs will service electric and hydrogen-powered trucks as well as conventional diesel ICE HGVs.

Earlier this year BP Pulse acquired the 21-acre Ashford International truck stop in Kent with plans to electrify the site with twenty-megawatt chargers in Q1 2026. The Ashford truck stop is one of the largest in Europe, strategically located close to the port of Dover. The facility offers 660 secure parking bays, convenience services and ablution facilities for truck drivers.

As part of the deal, BP Pulse will lease back the site to Ashford International Truckstop Ltd (part of the GSE Group), to operate the facility on a long-term lease but BP Pulse will operate and manage the charging infrastructure once it is installed.

Stefan von Dobschuetz, General Manager of  BP Pulse Europe, said:

For fleet operators to consider going electric, they must be confident that the infrastructure is in place to support them. That is why we are thrilled to have secured the land at a crucial site near Dover, as we strive to meet the evolving needs of HGV operators transitioning to EVs. The location of this truck stop aligns with our mission to provide accessible and strategically positioned charging infrastructure for our customers along the major truck corridors in Europe. Now we need to unlock the EV charging potential at this site. We look forward to working with national energy infrastructure partners to facilitate timely power connections for our ambitious project.

Ashford International truck stop in Kent

Finally, last year at the 2023 Road Transport Expo (RTX) show, Geotab debuted the beta version of its AI-powered fleet management software Project G (now Geotab ACE). At this year's show, the company announced a partnership with fleet telematics provider CameraMatics, based in Dublin Ireland, to integrate the “Geotab seatbelt infraction detection system” within the CameraMatics dashboard which allows the system to identify driver compliance and enhance safety standards across an entire fleet. The system works by tapping into the vehicle’s Controller Area Network (CAN) and then any seatbelt violations prompt drivers to buckle up by sending an instant notification to the dashboard. This ensures compliance with laws and enhances safety.