On the road in the eActros with Anna Liszka

Vehicle & Technology

Anna Liszka drives an electric truck.

Anna Liszka delivers goods for the supermarket chain Netto Marken-Discount and is putting an eActros through its paces in distribution haulage operations in and around Hamburg.


The start of the day is quite cool: at the Netto logistics centre in Henstedt-Ulzburg close to Hamburg, low temperatures are maintained to protect the foodstuffs stored here. Anna Liszka zips up her red fleece jacket and briefly rubs her hands before pulling on her work gloves. She grabs a hand-operated forklift and sets off towards the centre of the warehouse. The pallets for her next tour are already waiting for her.


Every day is different.

On average she delivers goods to around twelve Netto supermarkets every week. That is a distance of about 800 kilometres through north Germany. “Every day is different,” says Anna and points at her delivery schedule. Here she can see which delivery and truck has been assigned to her.

Today, the 24-year-old will be driving a special vehicle: an eActros which Netto Marken-Discount is using as part of customer testing in heavy-duty distribution haulage. The battery-electric driven vehicle is driven by Anna and three other colleagues usually for four tours a day. Because the supermarket’s logistics division operates around the clock, the truck is in operation almost 24 hours a day.


The logistics division of Netto Marken-Discount operates around the clock: the eActros is in operation for almost 24 hours every day.
The logistics division of Netto Marken-Discount operates around the clock: the eActros is in operation for almost 24 hours every day.
Once on the acceleration lane of the motorway, the speedometer pointer moves to the 80 mark in seconds. All of the torque from the electric motors is available to the eActros throughout the entire speed range.
Once on the acceleration lane of the motorway, the speedometer pointer moves to the 80 mark in seconds. All of the torque from the electric motors is available to the eActros throughout the entire speed range.

“Usually I drive a tractor/semitrailer combination. So, the eActros with a box body takes a little getting used to. But I agreed straightaway when I was asked if I would like to participate in the test phase.” Anna has been driving for Netto for two years. It was her boyfriend who introduced her to this career – he also sits at the wheel of a truck for the supermarket chain. “I developed a real passion for the job when we went on tours together.”

Two tours a day and two at night.

She has now loaded the last pallet into the refrigerated swap body and is busy securing the freight. While not in operation the vehicle is connected to the charging device. At the Netto logistics centre in Henstedt-Ulzburg, the device supplies a charging capacity of up to 80 Kilowatts. A green light-emitting diode pulses slowly. “It’s still charging,” Anna says, meaning the eActros. She smiles. The 24-year-old says that as if it’s a child that needs another 40 winks and shouldn’t be woken.



In order to use the eActros as efficiently as possible, the drivers connect the truck with the charging station prior to loading it. Anna doesn’t disconnect the truck until just before she sets off on her tour. “We always use the breaks and loading phases to charge the battery,” says fleet manager Thomas Duggen. “That way we manage two tours during the day and two at night to realise the truck’s full potential.”

And what are Anna Liszka’s first impressions? “Overall the driving experience is pleasant and smooth. And I don’t have to brake as often. If I take my foot off the accelerator, the electric motor brakes automatically.” In contrast to a truck with a combustion engine, the eActros continues to use the released energy. The electric motor becomes an alternator during every braking manoeuvre and charges the battery. On the right-hand side of the display a dial shows Anna the recuperation of energy.


“Overall the driving experience is pleasant and smooth. And I don’t have to brake as often. If I take my foot off the accelerator, the electric motor brakes automatically.”

–  Anna Liszka, driver for Netto Marken-Discount



The torque makes driving a joy.

Our driver now presents another characteristic of the truck on the acceleration lane of the A7 motorway towards Hamburg. She glances in the outside mirror on the left, depresses the accelerator slightly and in seconds the speedometer pointer moves to the 80 mark. Anna merges into the adjacent lane. “All of the torque from the electric motors is available whatever the speed,” she says. The power from the two 126-kilowatt motors in the test vehicle is obviously fun.

The stretch on the motorway is short. After 20 kilometres Anna takes the exit for the Netto supermarket in north Hamburg. The truck makes quick progress in the urban traffic. It is surprisingly fast when pulling away. Now she carefully lets the eActros roll across the supermarket’s car park towards the unloading ramp. She has a quick chat with a colleague, unloads and then sets off to the next store – in the direction of the city centre. “Let’s see what awaits me there,” she smiles, while taking off her work gloves. “As I said, every day is different.”



Photos: Sebastian Vollmert
Video: Alexander Tempel

15 comments