Goldhofer’s Fully Electric E-PowerPack Makes European Heavy Haulage Debut in Berlin
Since 2012, BEHALA has been responsible for transporting Siemens Energy gas turbines manufactured in Berlin. During this period, more than 300 turbines have been moved via the city's waterways. While the logistics processes are well established, the operational requirements remain highly demanding. One of the biggest challenges is the transport route itself. The turbines are moved through a densely populated urban environment where residential areas, transport infrastructure, and industrial facilities exist in close proximity. For BEHALA, one factor was particularly important: the E-PowerPack is not a concept or technology demonstrator but a market-ready solution designed for practical heavy-haulage operations.
During preparations for the Berlin transport, BEHALA stressed that the operation had to be completed using the same transport configuration and payload as before, with the only change being the propulsion system. As expectations for lower noise and reduced emissions in urban areas continue to grow, the E-PowerPack offers a targeted solution for specific heavy-haulage applications without claiming to replace conventional propulsion in every scenario. "Anyone moving a 430-tonne gas turbine through a living city carries responsibility—not only for the transport itself but also for the people living along the route. That is exactly why the E-PowerPack convinced us," said Leon Tietz, Head of Logistics at BEHALA. "The E-PowerPack enabled us to carry out the transport much more quietly and with zero local emissions, without compromising performance or ease of operation. In a city like Berlin, issues such as noise, emissions, and public acceptance will become increasingly important."
The technological foundation of the E-PowerPack originates from an industry where electric drives have proven their reliability under demanding conditions for many years—aircraft towing. Goldhofer's fully electric aircraft tow tractors have long been moving aircraft weighing up to 350 tonnes. The expertise gained in energy management, thermal performance, operational endurance, and system availability has been directly applied to the development of the electric drive unit for heavy-duty transport modules.
The result is a series-produced electric PowerPack delivering approximately 340 hp, featuring a new system architecture, energy-optimised control technology, and full telematics integration through Goldhofer LINK. Additional features, including a new radio remote control, lateral tilting display, and digital user interface, further enhance operator convenience during daily operations. "With the first practical deployment of our E-PowerPack in Europe, we are demonstrating that electrification in heavy haulage is no longer a vision for the future," said Matthias Ruppel, CEO of Goldhofer AG. "Our goal is not to electrify every application but to provide solutions where they can already deliver real value today. That is precisely what the E-PowerPack was developed for. It combines the performance and precision our customers expect with significantly lower local emissions and noticeably reduced noise levels. The successful operation in Berlin proves that this technology is market-ready, economically viable, and fully capable of handling demanding heavy transport operations."
For Goldhofer, the successful deployment in Berlin marks the beginning rather than the conclusion of its electrification journey. As heavy-haulage operations increasingly take place in urban environments, industrial facilities, and emissions-sensitive areas, demand for quieter and locally emission-free transport solutions continues to grow. With the E-PowerPack, customers now have access to a series-produced, market-ready technology specifically developed to meet these evolving requirements.
Published on:
03 August 2026
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