February this year Kˆppen GmbH has put five battery electric tractors into operation in Duisburg. These “MAN eTGS 20.449 4x2” are the very first registered battery electric tractors in Germany approved according to ADR level “FL” to carry tanks filled with gases or liquids with a flash point below 23° Celsius.
Jochen Kˆppen is convinced that electric powertrains will compete with combustible engines in future. Taking the high prices of the units on one side and the advantages in toll taxes on the other side into consideration, the TCO of the BEV will be almost the same as those for diesel-powered vehicles. The new trucks are operating with lowest CO2, gas and noise emissions to the favour of the customers and public. They allow night operations at a very low noise level and help reduce the CO2-taxes
Jochen¥s conviction in the calculations and given political framework as well as his trust in the technology and the usability of the trucks in the industry is underlined by the fact that the procurement was not subsidized by any authorities. The first few weeks of operation showed a full uptime of the units. Drivers are very much enthusiastic of the trucks, it¥s low noise and driving behaviour. The existing public charging infrastructure guarantees full availability of charging current.
To present the new BEV-tractors, Kˆppen has launched on March 4, 2026 the symposium "E-Mobility in Chemical Logistics – Safely Electric" at the Duisburg-Nord Landscape Park, where Kˆppen GmbH demonstrated a path toward making transport in chemical logistics more efficient and economical while maintaining existing safety standards.
With around 60 participants from the chemical industry, plant fire brigades, and the trade press, the event was not only well-attended but also precisely targeted the audience that can drive this development forward. The entire event focused on the general safety of battery-powered vehicles (BEV) and the challenges faced by operators and shippers when these units in the industry.
Following a concise welcome address by Fabian Griewel, Team Leader for Transport at the Lower Rhine Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) DuisburgWesel-Kleve, the speakers Achim DeMattio (MAN Truck & Bus SE, Munich), Jan Werner (Bundesanstalt f¸r Materialforschung und -pr¸fung (BAM), Berlin,
Department 3, Dangerous Goods Packaging, Energy Storage; BAM is a senior scientific and technical Federal institute with responsibility to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. It tests, researches and advises to protect people, the environment and material goods.), Markus Hermans (DEKRA Automobil AG, expert for dangerous goods vehicles according to ß14 para. 4 GGVSEB), and Helmut Fliegl (Fliegl Fahrzeugbau GmbH, Triptis) presented on the topics of vehicle and battery safety, axle loads, and weight distribution.
The key findings, which Achim DeMattio illustrated with a clear 3D graphic, can be summarized in a few key points.
• MAN has developed the BEV trucks right from the start according to ADR
standards.
• MAN employs an efficient thermal management system in which three
coolant circuits can be flexibly interconnected.
Press Release
Conc.: BEV ADR “FL” tractors / Symposium 4th of March, 2026
Date: 24.04.2026
page 2 of 2
• The flexibility of the modular battery system adapts to the application.
• Nickel-manganese-cobalt batteries (medium nickel content) are favored due
to their balanced positive properties.
• Maximum operational safety, as the batteries have passed all conceivable
tests from fire and water to ice and crash tests.
• The high-voltage system is completely sealed; theoretically it can operate
even under water.
• In the event of a malfunction, the driver is warned at a very early stage. March 26, 2026
Jochen Kˆppen is convinced that electric powertrains will compete with combustible engines in future. Taking the high prices of the units on one side and the advantages in toll taxes on the other side into consideration, the TCO of the BEV will be almost the same as those for diesel-powered vehicles. The new trucks are operating with lowest CO2, gas and noise emissions to the favour of the customers and public. They allow night operations at a very low noise level and help reduce the CO2-taxes
Jochen¥s conviction in the calculations and given political framework as well as his trust in the technology and the usability of the trucks in the industry is underlined by the fact that the procurement was not subsidized by any authorities. The first few weeks of operation showed a full uptime of the units. Drivers are very much enthusiastic of the trucks, it¥s low noise and driving behaviour. The existing public charging infrastructure guarantees full availability of charging current.
To present the new BEV-tractors, Kˆppen has launched on March 4, 2026 the symposium "E-Mobility in Chemical Logistics – Safely Electric" at the Duisburg-Nord Landscape Park, where Kˆppen GmbH demonstrated a path toward making transport in chemical logistics more efficient and economical while maintaining existing safety standards.
With around 60 participants from the chemical industry, plant fire brigades, and the trade press, the event was not only well-attended but also precisely targeted the audience that can drive this development forward. The entire event focused on the general safety of battery-powered vehicles (BEV) and the challenges faced by operators and shippers when these units in the industry.
Following a concise welcome address by Fabian Griewel, Team Leader for Transport at the Lower Rhine Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) DuisburgWesel-Kleve, the speakers Achim DeMattio (MAN Truck & Bus SE, Munich), Jan Werner (Bundesanstalt f¸r Materialforschung und -pr¸fung (BAM), Berlin,
Department 3, Dangerous Goods Packaging, Energy Storage; BAM is a senior scientific and technical Federal institute with responsibility to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. It tests, researches and advises to protect people, the environment and material goods.), Markus Hermans (DEKRA Automobil AG, expert for dangerous goods vehicles according to ß14 para. 4 GGVSEB), and Helmut Fliegl (Fliegl Fahrzeugbau GmbH, Triptis) presented on the topics of vehicle and battery safety, axle loads, and weight distribution.
The key findings, which Achim DeMattio illustrated with a clear 3D graphic, can be summarized in a few key points.
• MAN has developed the BEV trucks right from the start according to ADR
standards.
• MAN employs an efficient thermal management system in which three
coolant circuits can be flexibly interconnected.
Press Release
Conc.: BEV ADR “FL” tractors / Symposium 4th of March, 2026
Date: 24.04.2026
page 2 of 2
• The flexibility of the modular battery system adapts to the application.
• Nickel-manganese-cobalt batteries (medium nickel content) are favored due
to their balanced positive properties.
• Maximum operational safety, as the batteries have passed all conceivable
tests from fire and water to ice and crash tests.
• The high-voltage system is completely sealed; theoretically it can operate
even under water.
• In the event of a malfunction, the driver is warned at a very early stage. March 26, 2026
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