Renault Trucks and Hugelshofer Demonstrate The Power of Electric Trucks in The Field

Renault Trucks and Hugelshofer demonstrate the potential of electric trucks in demanding operational conditions.

A Renault Trucks E-Tech T with a nominal range of 300 km covered over 1,000 km in a single day. Swiss transport specialist Hugelshofer Logistics shows that the performance of electric trucks depends not only on battery capacity but also on an overall operational strategy.

Hugelshofer Logistics AG CEO Martin Lörtscher commented: “The crucial question is not the maximum range of the truck, but how it is integrated into transport operations. By adapting our routes and charging strategy, we can maximize the daily uptime of our electric trucks. This transforms them into a true industrial asset perfectly adapted to our operations.”

A logistics system designed to maximize electric truck utilization

Hugelshofer operates a fleet of 220 trucks, 80 of which are electric. A total of 150 drivers at the company use electric heavy-duty vehicles in their daily operations.

In order to maximize the utilization of electric trucks and optimize total cost of ownership (TCO), Hugelshofer Logistik operates its Renault Trucks E-Tech T vehicles with double-driver crews. While drivers carry out intermediate charging during mandatory rest breaks, full charging is completed overnight at the depot. Thanks to this approach, each electric truck with a nominal range of 300 km can cover more than 600 km during a typical operating day.

On a record day, one of the Renault Trucks E-Tech T vehicles in the Swiss operator’s fleet covered 1,007 km within 24 hours. This performance demonstrates that intensive use is possible when the mission profile, operating area, and charging strategy are clearly defined. It also highlights the importance of correctly sizing battery capacity. Depending on usage patterns, selecting the maximum battery capacity may not always be necessary. Battery capacity can be tailored to preserve payload capacity and efficiency. For this reason, Renault Trucks works closely with its customers to determine the most suitable configuration based on their operational constraints and actual needs.

Charging infrastructure that boosts performance

The performance of Hugelshofer’s Renault Trucks E-Tech T vehicles relies heavily on an optimized charging infrastructure. At the carrier’s Frauenfeld facility, there are 30 fast-charging stations with a maximum output of 480 kW, enabling the charging of up to 100 trucks per day.

This system is supported by a photovoltaic (solar power) installation generating 1.2 million kWh of electricity annually, while three transformers ensure grid stability. As a result, 95% of charging operations are carried out directly at the depot. This enables effective cost control, operational reliability, and uninterrupted daily operations.

Switzerland: a supportive ecosystem for heavy-duty vehicle electrification

Hugelshofer Logistik achieves approximately 30% lower operating costs with its electric trucks compared to equivalent diesel vehicles. This outcome is driven not only by the company’s strategic and operational choices, but also by Swiss regulations that support the electrification of heavy-duty vehicles.

In Switzerland, zero-emission trucks benefit from significant advantages under the LSVA road usage charge, making electric vehicles economically competitive with conventional internal combustion vehicles. In addition, the Swiss Confederation has announced an investment program worth CHF 20 million to expand charging infrastructure for heavy-duty vehicles between 2026 and 2030.

Thanks to this supportive framework, the Swiss model offers a highly favorable environment for heavy-duty vehicle electrification. In the first 11 months of 2025, the electrification rate for vehicles over 16 tons reached 14.7%—nearly eight times the European average of 1.9%.

For Renault Trucks, electric mobility is positioned as one of the key tools for achieving decarbonization goals in road freight transport. The Swiss example shows that the transition to electric trucks can be accelerated when vehicles, infrastructure, organization, and public policies progress together. For this reason, it is crucial for European countries to draw inspiration from this model in order to create the necessary conditions for large-scale electrification.