Successful test phase in 2024
cargo-partner had already tested the eActros 300 during an intensive trial phase in Austria in 2024. During this time, emission-free and silent collection and delivery tours in urban areas were successfully conducted from the iLogistics Center Vienna. “A highlight was a 264 km tour to St. Pölten with a payload of 6.9 tons, where the truck demonstrated impressive energy efficiency of just 1 kWh/km and still had a remaining capacity of 38% at the end of the day,” explains Christian Russ, Head of Road Transport / National Product Manager Road Transport at cargo-partner.
Infrastructure – the real challenge
The successful integration of the e-trucks was associated with a significant investment: the development of a high-performance charging infrastructure at the Fischamend site, which – like the entire site – is powered by 100% green electricity.
cargo-partner emphasizes that the greatest challenge is not the vehicle itself, but the infrastructure. Setting up a charging station is significantly more complex in practice than one may assume. Issues such as grid connection, available power capacities, permits, and high investment costs for grid reinforcement were central hurdles that had to be overcome.
Operational excellence and new thinking
The two eActros 300 are used in classic local transport within a radius of about 90 km around the hub at Vienna Airport, covering areas from the Seewinkel region to Vienna’s city center and out to St. Pölten. The range of 250–300 km proves to be ideal for this profile. Even with extreme sub-zero temperatures and snowy roads in January 2026, operational continuity was ensured through flexible dispatching.
The transition requires more than just new technology; it demands a structural shift in thinking – from strategic planning of charging cycles to more conscious scheduling of tours. “Additionally, for these highly digitized vehicles, we are focusing on intensive training for our drivers to ensure safe and efficient handling of the vehicle and charging infrastructure,” adds Johannes Wenzl, Managing Director at H. Wenzl Handel Transport Logistik GmbH.
Technology-open strategy and customer perspective
Although there is interest in sustainable solutions, customer focus in the current market environment is clearly on cost optimization. Due to the current framework, there are no commercial advantages to electric trucks at present. Therefore, cargo-partner sees the project as a strategic investment in know-how and future competitiveness, with no additional costs being passed on to customers. The project is financially supported by a grant from the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG).
“E-trucks are a central component of our technology-open strategy, which is complemented by the switch to HVO fuel, consistent route optimization, and an increase in transport efficiency,” explains Michael Lehner, Product Development Road Austria at cargo-partner.
Systemically integrated sustainability
At cargo-partner, electrification has an impact along the entire transport chain. The e-vehicles from H. Wenzl Handel Transport Logistik GmbH are specifically used for pre- and on-carriage for warehouse logistics customers as well as for air and sea freight transport. This makes CO₂-reduced road transport an integral part of cargo-partner’s multimodal logistics solutions. The goal is not to view sustainability in isolation, but to integrate it into existing processes in a systemic, economically sensible, and future-oriented manner.
