Specializing in cutting-edge electric powertrain technology, Magtec is bringing innovative e-mobility solutions to delivery fleets and rail systems. Permanent-magnet motors and hybrid system development are keys to the British company’s latest advancements for fleet and transit operators.
Aiming toward continued expansion of the UK’s largest electric delivery fleet, Magtec and Royal Mail are conducting trials of two new 19-ton electric trucks optimized for urban area transport. Supported by an £800,000 grant facilitated by the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK in collaboration with the Department for Business and Trade and Innovate UK, the trial puts the vehicles through their paces in real-world conditions, comparing their performance with Royal Mail’s existing fleet.
Built in the UK and featuring the iconic Royal Mail red livery, the company’s first-ever electric truck will be based at the Greenford Mail Centre in North West London. It will deliver and collect mail to and from nearby delivery offices. Flexible battery options mean that the truck can cover up to 125 miles on a single charge – enough to cover most urban delivery routes. A powerful electric motor delivers the strength needed for heavy loads while maintaining highway speeds of up to 56mph. The results of the trial will help Royal Mail and other fleet operators understand the real-world benefits and practicalities of switching to electric vehicles.
Smaller electric vans are already an important part of Royal Mail’s fleet strategy with more than 7,000 electric vans in use across the UK. Royal Mail already has the lowest reported carbon emissions per parcel of any UK delivery company and aims to maintain this position in the long term. The company’s ‘Steps to Zero’ environment strategy set a goal of achieving Net-Zero by 2040. The company has already reduced Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 18% in two years, with a target to achieve a 50% reduction by 2030.
“This collaboration represents a significant milestone in advancing EV technology for medium-duty trucks,” explains Marcus Jenkins, CTO at Magtec. “By addressing the challenges of power inefficiencies and range anxiety, we aim to provide fleet operators with a reliable, cost-effective solution that supports their decarbonisation goals while maintaining operational reliability.”
Anna Pearson, Fleet Innovation and Environment Manager at Royal Mail, said: “We’re excited to welcome the Magtec truck to the Royal Mail fleet. We’ve been rolling out electric vans in our ‘final mile’ fleet for a number of years, and now we want to learn more about how we can decarbonise our national distribution fleet of over 4,000 trucks. This trial will help strengthen our position as the UK’s largest electric delivery fleet operator, while ensuring we have the reliability we need for the challenge of delivering to every single one of the UK’s 32 million addresses.”
“Magtec’s high-performance electric drive train technology is now excellently positioned to seize a growth market opportunity,” notes Martin Welch, Senior Project Delivery Lead for APC. “As demand for electric vehicles increases both for first-build and re-power applications, so does the need for versatile and effective powertrain systems like those offered by Magtec.”
A leader in electric vehicle components and driveline systems, Magtec brings significant experience to the project, with its electric vehicles already covering over 2.5 million miles on UK roads. Its new Gen2 system is designed to provide improved efficiency and reliability for everyday delivery operations.
The 19-ton Magtec MEV190 electric truck is designed to be suitable for typical urban and regional deliveries with a range of up to 125 miles on a single charge. Over 90% of the components have been designed, developed, and manufactured in-house, representing the pinnacle of Magtec’s 30+ years of specialized EV expertise. The driveline and powertrain feature a nominal 600V DC system voltage, powered by a compact “P220” permanent-magnet motor with a peak output of 200kW and a torque of 3600Nm. The battery system is comprised of five modular 60kWh battery packs having total capacity of 300kWh, built from premium NMC cells with an energy density of over 160Wh/kg.
Repowering rail: hybrid solution for a cleaner, more efficient network
As the rail industry continues its journey toward decarbonization, operators face a tough question: how do you reduce emissions without replacing entire fleets or waiting years for new infrastructure? Applying the same innovation and engineering rigor that it has focused on fleet vehicles, now Magtec has developed an answer for repowering existing rolling stock with modern, low-emission drivetrains — offering a hybrid solution that bridges the gap between today’s diesel fleets and tomorrow’s net-zero targets.
Its rail repowering technology provides a practical, scalable alternative to full electrification or new train procurement. By integrating Magtec’s electric drive systems into existing diesel units, operators can significantly reduce carbon emissions, improve efficiency, and extend vehicle life — all at a fraction of the cost of new rolling stock or electrification works.
The repowered rail solution can be delivered flexibly as either full battery-electric or hybrid electric-diesel, depending on route type such as regional lines, rural routes, or non-electrified sections of the network where infrastructure upgrades may be years away. Battery-electric is considered ideal for short to mid-distance routes with charging capability. Hybrid-diesel is retained for long-range or non-electrified sections, with electric power used where feasible to reduce emissions, noise, and fuel use.
Founded in 1992, Magtec operates from an in-house modern factory in Rotherham near Sheffield in northcentral England where it designs and manufactures its electric drive systems for vehicles in the commercial, rail and defense sectors. Its technologies include motors, gearboxes, generators, power controllers, battery systems and condition monitoring systems specifically designed for truck, bus and special applications such as autonomous vehicles, off-road, tracked and defense logistics and personnel carriers. See www.magtec.co.uk.
