MAN plans to bring bidirectional charging to the eTGX electric truck in series production after proving the technology in a three-year research project.
The SPIRIT-E project, led by the Technical University of Munich with eight partners, tested the eTGX at a Schmid logistics site in Regensburg. The truck's 480kWh battery fed power into the depot network and public grid at up to 350kW using an SBRS bidirectional DC charger and the ISO 15118-20 standard.
The system cut energy costs by about 10% on average. In ideal conditions, savings reached 20%, particularly for e-trucks covering under 100,000km annually with regular depot stops. The eTGX traded power through PowerBot software, buying low and selling high, and helped ease grid bottlenecks via the Equigy platform.
The technology itself is proven, but the project partners identified remaining barriers outside hardware. They cited a need for simpler power-trading standards, closer links between logistics and energy companies, and more skills among fleet operators. Regulatory rules and business models remain the primary hurdles.
Georg Grüneißl, Head of Product Strategy at MAN Truck & Bus, stated: "Through SPIRIT-E, the MAN eTGX has demonstrated that it can serve as a bidirectional energy storage system. We are now working to bring this feature into series production. At the same time, we are developing a consulting concept for our customers that will help them unlock the full potential of this rolling power bank."