Full 3.5 t trailer load: How HEERO enables e-transporters without compromise
Your operation relies on a high towing capacity, but you need to switch to electric drive? Many electric transporters fail at this hurdle and significantly limit your operational capability. Heero offers the solution that combines performance and sustainability.
The topic briefly and concisely
Full power: HEERO E-Transporters based on Sprinter retain the full towing capacity of up to 3.5 tons, which is crucial for many industries such as crafts and municipalities.
Economic operation: By converting to electric drive, the total operating costs (TCO) can be reduced by up to 70% due to savings in energy, maintenance, taxes, and fees.
Sustainable investment protection: The principle of the circular economy conserves resources by reusing existing vehicles and expensive special structures and protecting them from diesel driving bans.
For municipalities, craft businesses, and logistics companies, a towing capacity of 3.5 tons is often indispensable. At the same time, rising operating costs and legal requirements such as the Clean Vehicles Directive are forcing the transition to emission-free drives. Standard electric vans often offer only inadequate solutions with a highly limited towing capacity of 1,500 kg. HEERO closes this gap. We position ourselves as your partner for practical electrification by maintaining the full towing capacity of your Mercedes-Benz Sprinter through our patented conversion and powerful new vehicles. This protects your investment in expensive specialized bodies and secures the unrestricted performance of your fleet.
The challenge: uncompromising towing capacity in the age of e-mobility
Many fleet operators face a dilemma: the need to switch to emission-free vehicles collides with the requirement to pull heavy loads. Most electric vans on the market are designed for a maximum towing capacity of only 1,500 kg to 2,000 kg. For businesses in horticulture and landscaping, for municipalities with special trailers, or for construction site logistics, this is a clear obstacle. The legal framework, such as the Clean Vehicles Procurement Act (Saubere-Fahrzeuge-Beschaffungs-Gesetz), further increases the pressure, demanding a quota of 38.5% emission-free new vehicles in public tenders by 2026. The question is therefore not if, but how the transition can succeed without operational disadvantages. This gap between legal requirements and the technical offerings of many manufacturers leads to significant planning uncertainty. The solution requires a technological approach that preserves the robust foundation of proven commercial vehicles. Learn more about our solutions for special-purpose vehicles.
This discrepancy makes it clear that a standard solution is often not sufficient to ensure full operational capability.
The HEERO solution: Full towing capacity of 3.5 t through innovative electrification
HEERO breaks with the compromises of conventional e-transporters. Our core technological competence lies in the conversion of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, where we maintain the full functionality of the base vehicle. For you, this means: The certified towing capacity of up to 3.5 tons is fully retained. We replace the diesel drivetrain with our highly efficient electric drive without altering the proven and stable frame structure of the Sprinter. This secures not only the pulling power, but also the value of your existing special bodies. The instantly available torque of our electric drive ensures confident starting, even with a heavy trailer on a hill.
The following businesses benefit particularly from this performance capability:
Municipalities with trailers for green maintenance or waste disposal
Craft businesses transporting heavy machinery and materials
Landscaping companies with excavators or large bulk trailers
Logistics companies with special transport requirements
Our electric flatbed trucks are a perfect example of this uncompromising performance. We thus prove that emission-related and economic benefits can go hand in hand.
Legal framework: What you need for a 3.5 ton towing capacity
Operating a vehicle combination with a gross vehicle weight rating of over 3.5 tons requires clear legal prerequisites. To tow a trailer with a permissible gross vehicle weight rating of up to 3,500 kg, drivers need the BE driver's license class. With this permit, the sum of the permissible gross vehicle weight ratings of the towing vehicle and the trailer may be up to 7,000 kg. Our converted HEERO vehicles meet all requirements of the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO) for operation with a full towing capacity. The relevant data, such as the technically permissible braked towing capacity (field O.1), are entered accordingly in the vehicle documents. We ensure that your vehicle is 100% legally compliant after the conversion. You can rely on the fact that all technical and administrative requirements for legal operation are met. A conversion for construction site logistics takes these aspects into account right from the start. This way, you avoid legal gray areas and can concentrate fully on your core business.
Focus on Cost-Effectiveness: TCO Analysis for Trailer Operations
The decision in favor of an electric transporter is primarily an economic one. Although the initial acquisition costs can be higher, the total cost of ownership (TCO) is significantly lower than that of a diesel vehicle. A study by the ICCT proves that the additional costs for electric trucks often amortize within 4 to 6 years. This applies in particular to demanding trailer operations. By converting, you save up to 70% of maintenance and energy costs.
Here is a direct cost comparison:
Energy costs: The cost per 100 km is significantly lower with electricity than with diesel, even with rising electricity prices.
Maintenance: An electric drive has no exhaust system, no oil change, and fewer wearing parts, which reduces service costs by over 50%.
Taxes & Levies: You benefit from 10 years of vehicle tax exemption and income from the GHG quota.
Value stability: Through the circular economy, the value of your existing vehicle, including the body, is preserved and secured for the future.
Our experts will create an individual TCO analysis for you. Experience the benefits yourself during a daily test at zero cost. This makes the economic efficiency of your fleet transparent and predictable.
Proven practicality: range and everyday usability with a trailer
Range is a key criterion, especially when towing a trailer. It is well known that pulling heavy loads increases energy consumption and can reduce range by up to 50%. Our HEERO e-transporters are equipped with battery capacities of up to 126 kWh, enabling a WLTP range of up to 425 km in solo operation. In real-world use with a 3.5-ton trailer, this translates to a practical range of over 200 km. This range fully covers the typical daily routes of municipal or craft businesses. In addition, our intelligent recuperation system ensures that energy is recovered during braking, further increasing efficiency. Charging time at a DC fast charging station is only around 60 minutes from 20 to 80%. This means your vehicle is fully ready for use again after a lunch break. The continued use of your Sprinter chassis thus ensures e-mobility that is suitable for everyday use. In this way, switching to electric becomes a reliable solution for your daily work routine.
Sustainability through circular economy: A second life for your Sprinter
The decision in favor of a HEERO conversion is a clear commitment to the circular economy. Instead of scrapping a fully functional vehicle with a valuable special body, we extend its lifecycle by many years. This approach conserves valuable resources and significantly reduces the carbon footprint. The production of a new commercial vehicle is extremely energy-intensive. It is estimated that conversion saves a significant portion of the energy compared to new production. You are not only acting sustainably in terms of emissions, but also economically by maximizing the value of your existing fleet.
The advantages of this principle are diverse:
Resource conservation: Preserving the body and superstructure saves steel, plastic, and other materials.
CO2 reduction: Avoiding the emissions generated during the manufacture of a completely new vehicle.
Waste prevention: A functioning vehicle does not become waste, but a modern electric vehicle.
Investment protection: Your expensive special body is protected from threatened decommissioning due to diesel driving bans.
With HEERO you invest in a future-proof and responsible mobility solution. The preservation of the full payload is a central component of our philosophy.
More useful links
Umweltbundesamt offers comprehensive information on electromobility and environmentally friendly mobility.
