Tatra Unveiled Its First Electric Truck, the Force e-Drive BEV 8x8
The Czech company Tatra Trucks has unveiled its first electric truck—the Tatra Force e-Drive BEV prototype in an 8x8 configuration. The vehicle is designed for mixed-use operation on roads and in challenging off-road conditions, particularly in the construction and mining industries, according to InsideEVs.
The truck is built on a new-generation Tatra chassis with a central load-bearing tube and independent swing axles. All eight wheels are driven: the two front axles are steerable and feature selectable drive, while the two rear axles are permanently driven. The design also features air suspension, individual inter-wheel differentials for each axle, and an inter-axle differential.
A Danfoss electric motor is mounted under the cab, delivering up to 550 kW (737 k.s.) and 2,600 Nm of torque. Its continuous power output is 360 kW, and its torque is 2,300 Nm. The powertrain is paired with a four-speed Eaton automated transmission, as well as an additional Tatra transmission for driving over difficult terrain.
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Power for the motor is supplied by 12 traction batteries with a total capacity of 480 kWh. The claimed range is between 300 and 400 km. The electric truck weighs about 22 metric tons; its maximum payload capacity is also 22 metric tons, and it can tow up to 18 metric tons.
Jakub Ponczik, Technical Director of Tatra Trucks, stated that the Force e-Drive BEV 8x8 is intended to test the feasibility of integrating a fully electric powertrain and traction batteries into a truck for operation on roads and in the most challenging off-road conditions. Starting in 2023, the company also unveiled an 8x6 hydrogen truck and an 8x8 plug-in hybrid equipped with an eight-cylinder internal combustion engine and an electric motor.
