In November 2017, Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled the prototype of the Semi truck, featuring electric drive, an aerodynamic cabin, a central seat for the driver, and advanced technological features. Major companies placed large orders immediately, with UPS ordering 125 and PepsiCo ordering 100. However, by 2022, only 36 trucks had been delivered to PepsiCo and none to UPS.
On the other hand, a Chinese company named Windrose was founded in 2022 and has been making quick progress. The Windrose truck has already undergone test drives in the Netherlands and France and even announced a sponsorship with the Giants in Antwerp. The similarities between the Windrose truck and Tesla Semi are evident, but Windrose offers a different concept, high-tech features, and a driving range of 600 kilometers.
Windrose has ambitious plans for the future, including setting up a European headquarters and workshop in Belgium and producing 10,000 trucks per year by 2027. While these plans seem promising, industry experts like Claude Yvens caution that many new players in the market have had big plans that ultimately fell through.
The choice of Antwerp for Windrose’s European headquarters makes sense as most of its production will take place in China with assembly for the European market happening in Belgium. Despite promising features of Windrose truck there are still challenges to overcome such as ensuring compliance with European regulations and building trust among transport companies.
Electric trucks currently make up a small percentage of Belgian fleet but major companies like AB InBev already use them. Volvo MAN Scania Mercedes-Benz are also producing electric trucks taking advantage of relaxed tonnage rules in Europe. As industry moves towards sustainability future of electric trucks looks promising with advancements in technology infrastructure supporting their growth
