Designwerk. Press release Snow plow endurance test in the Swiss Alps
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Midsummer, endurance test, high voltage: Designwerk tests electric snow plow under extreme conditions
Winterthur, 19 June 2025 - While others are thinking about summer holidays, road maintenance services and airport operators are already preparing for the challenges of the coming winter. In March of this year, Designwerk Technologies AG tested an all-electric snow plouw on a Swiss Alpine pass under extreme conditions - setting a new benchmark for sustainable winter maintenance operations.
The Designwerk Mid Cab 8x4R Snow Plow, equipped with a 750 kWh battery system, two steerable axles and a flexible superstructure system, mastered an 11 km mountain route with an average gradient of 6.4 percent and around 13,000 tons of wet snow - a weight equivalent to the load of over 500 fully loaded 40-ton articulated trucks.
"For road maintenance companies, summer is the time for preparation. Because what proves its worth in winter begins months in advance - in planning, in testing, in technology. For us, it was a matter of ensuring operational readiness today for the coming winter - especially for operators who have to combine high requirements with CO₂ reduction targets," says Markus Erdmann, Head of Product Management at Designwerk.
Summertime is planning time
The results not only provide insights into performance under extreme conditions, but also flow directly into the series development of the new 800-volt vehicle generation. The focus is not only on pure drive power, but also on the interplay of traction control, thermal management and peak load capacity in real-life use. "Our customers - from motorway maintenance depots to airports - are planning their procurements for 2026 today and need reliable data in order to make decisions. This is exactly what we deliver with tests like these," adds Markus Erdmann.
Electromobility has arrived in the special application sector
Despite the extreme conditions with snow depths of up to 35 cm and high density, the vehicle successfully mastered the test. Consumption peaked at 1500 kWh/100 km, which corresponds to a calculated diesel consumption of over 400 l/100 km - a result of the gradient, amount of snow and clearing performance. In normal operation, however, the energy consumption is 180-340 kWh/100 km - sufficient for ranges between 190 and 360 km.
Tobias Wülser - Co-Founder gets emotional when he sees the pictures:
"For us, this was more than just a test. It was a statement. Electromobility is not a fair-weather friend. It also delivers when the going gets tough. For our team at Designwerk, it was a moment of pride. We are proud to be able to meet the high requirements in special applications with unique solutions and thus make a contribution to the decarbonisation of the transport sector."
With this endurance test, Designwerk demonstrates that electric commercial vehicles are now ready for even the most demanding municipal and industrial applications. Airports and alpine regions in particular benefit from the emission-free, high-performance systems - and can thus combine climate targets with operational safety.
The electric snow plough from Designwerk is based on the following modules:
- Chassis: Volvo FM
- Drive train, transmission, control electronics and software: Designwerk
- Front and side blade: Zaugg
- Spreader body: Aebi Schmidt
- Hook system: Mobas - for flexible use of the electric utility vehicle outside of the winter season
Technical Key data:
- Vehicle type: Mid Cab 8x4R Snow Plow
- Battery (usable): 648 kWh (763 kWh installed)
- Total weight: 34’000 kg
- Charging time (MCS, planned): up to 80 % in 40 minutes
- Charging time (CCS 350kWh): up to 80% in 78 minutes
- Configuration: 2 steerable axles, circulating insulated batteries
- Maximum power: up to 500 kW
(Further technical details in the linked technical data sheet)
About Designwerk
The company Designwerk Technologies AG stands for electromobility from a single source. For driving, charging and storing.
The passion for electromobility grew among the founders during the 80-day, all-electric world record circumnavigation with the specially developed Zerotracer cabin motorbike. Since its foundation in 2008, Designwerk has been driving electromobility forward with innovative products and projects, aiming to spread sustainable mobility.
Under the Designwerk brand, electric trucks for special applications, mobile fast chargers, battery-buffered fast charging stations in the megawatt range and modular high-voltage battery systems are developed and manufactured. The e-trucks include the first fully electric refuse collection vehicles on Swiss roads and the e-trucks with the largest battery capacities and ranges currently available. The chargers are widely used by European vehicle manufacturers. The modular traction batteries enable smaller and medium-sized vehicle manufacturers to successfully enter and transition to electromobility.
The Volvo Group has held a stake in Designwerk since 2021. Today, the company employs 220 people at three locations in Winterthur (CH) and one location in Lottstetten (DE).
Further Information
Designwerk Technologies AG Marketing and communication Antonia Robaina Telefon +41 44 9560 37
antonia.robaina@designwerk.com www.designwerk.com Facebook LinkedIn
