en.Wedoany.com Reported - Iveco, in collaboration with Gruber Logistics, is deploying a fully electric truck for road testing as part of the European research project EMPOWER. The test period will last six months and is scheduled to begin in mid-June 2026. The test vehicle is a prototype pure electric truck based on the Iveco S-eWay chassis, operated by Gruber Logistics from its site in northeastern Italy. According to project partners, the testing will take place within Gruber Logistics' less-than-truckload (LTL) division, covering consolidated cargo and partial load transport.
According to Iveco, this electric vehicle with a range of approximately 400 kilometers will be tested on medium- and long-distance routes by the end of 2026. Initial tests have already been completed at Iveco's test site in Ulm. The truck integrates several solutions developed under the EMPOWER project, funded by the European Commission through the Horizon Europe program, including "additional cab insulation and human-machine interface (HMI) functions that can plan particularly sustainable routes and optimize energy consumption." The vehicle has been specifically adapted for consolidated transport operations.
The electric truck's battery pack has a total capacity of 300 kWh and is supported by a 480 kW electric drive axle (FPT eAxle), which integrates the electric motor, transmission, and power electronics into a single system. A distinctive feature of the prototype is that it is designed for long-distance zero-emission transport using swap bodies, rather than traditional semi-trailer applications. To this end, the vehicle chassis has been extended and adjusted according to operational requirements jointly defined with Gruber Logistics. The cab has also been further developed in collaboration with multiple EMPOWER project partners to implement the necessary operation and control strategies.
EMPOWER stands for "Eco-operated, Modular, highly efficient, and flexible multi-POWERtrain for long-haul heavy-duty vehicles." Iveco states that the project aims to make a significant contribution to the promotion of scalable zero-emission freight transport in Europe. By testing pure electric heavy-duty vehicles in real logistics operations, the goal is to bridge the gap between technology development and widespread market adoption. Data collected during the testing phase will help further optimize future electric truck platforms and promote the use of electric vehicles in regional and long-distance transport.
Pierpaolo Biffali, Head of Innovation and Advanced Engineering at Iveco Group, commented on the testing, saying that the EMPOWER project "provides the ideal framework to work with partners from across the ecosystem on specific and challenging transport applications." Martin Gruber, CEO of Gruber Logistics, added: "With the electric Iveco prototype truck specially customized for the EMPOWER application, we can test the performance and reliability of a cutting-edge vehicle under real logistics conditions. By using the vehicle on different routes and with different commodity groups in the consolidation and partial load sector, we can gain valuable experience for the further development of zero-emission heavy commercial vehicles."
During the testing phase, the truck is equipped with a data logger that collects extensive information on vehicle operation, including data on electricity consumption, the efficiency of the five battery packs, and charging behavior. This data will be managed at Gruber Logistics' site in Bologna, Italy, where the test vehicle is charged via a mobile charging unit. In 2026, the project will focus on the testing phase of the pure electric vehicle, while Iveco indicates that a hydrogen-powered truck using fuel cell technology is planned for testing in 2027.
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