As of 2025, electric truck production in Türkiye is entering a new phase in which stricter compliance with standards is being observed, driven by both global emissions targets and safety-focused technical regulations. Domestic manufacturers are moving toward vehicle architectures aligned with European Union and UNECE type approval frameworks, particularly through fully electric platforms developed in the heavy commercial segment and the battery solutions integrated into them.
Sectoral and Technical Transformation
In electric trucks, drivetrain architecture is designed in line with high-voltage safety, energy management and power electronics principles. High-voltage cabling, inverter and electric motor components are addressed together with insulation resistance, leakage current monitoring and emergency power cut-off functions.
Battery packs are configured with thermal management strategies that ensure range continuity in urban distribution and regional transport scenarios. Liquid-cooled modules operate together with temperature monitoring and cell balancing algorithms integrated into the battery management system, offering optimized use in terms of both performance and cycle life.
The integration of electric powertrain components with heavy-duty vehicle chassis is carried out by taking axle loads, weight distribution and chassis rigidity into account. This approach provides more predictable vehicle behavior in terms of driving dynamics and operational efficiency, particularly through the coordinated distribution of regenerative and mechanical braking forces during deceleration.
In fully electric heavy commercial vehicle projects developed in Türkiye, platforms offered with different axle configurations (such as 4×2 and 6×2) are combined with multiple battery packs to create variable range and payload capacity combinations. In this way, modular solutions are coming to the fore for both logistics fleet operators and regionally focused distribution users.
Standards, Emissions Requirements and Safety Framework
In the development of electric heavy commercial vehicles, European Union and UNECE regulations relating to emissions and vehicle safety are evaluated together. The Euro 7 emissions standard adopted in 2024 provides an updated framework that covers not only exhaust emission limits but also non-exhaust emissions such as brake dust and tire wear. New type approvals for heavy commercial vehicles are expected to fall under Euro 7 after a defined transition period, and manufacturers are focusing their R&D programs on preparing next-generation braking and motor systems for this phase.
Heavy-duty braking requirements are addressed in line with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’s UN R13 regulation. These provisions include additional requirements concerning service brake system performance, distribution of braking force between axles, the combined operation of regenerative braking systems and mechanical brakes, and the safety of electrical brake transmission systems.
On the dangerous goods transportation side, ADR provisions have been updated with new technical conditions for the category-based use of vehicles with electric propulsion. These provisions, which entered into force as of 2025, introduce additional requirements for battery electric vehicles to be used in the transport of flammable gases and liquids. Accordingly, elements such as battery enclosure design, emergency current cut-off functions, reduction of spark risk and equipment layout are becoming mandatory criteria that must be taken into account at the initial stage of vehicle design.
National Industrial Policies and International Alignment
In Türkiye, strategies for electric truck production are taking shape at the intersection of industrial and climate policies that support low-emission transportation. The Green Deal Action Plan and updated climate targets aim to guide industry through a transformation process aligned with the European Green Deal and to maintain competitiveness in export markets.
The 2053 net zero emissions target and recent regulations in national climate legislation envisage the transport sector assuming a role in carbon reduction that also includes heavy commercial transportation. The development of incentive mechanisms for electric and alternative-fuel vehicle technologies is strengthening the domestic production chain while supporting logistics operators in transitioning to low-emission vehicles.
In international markets, alongside the EU’s heavy-duty vehicle CO₂ standards and the transition timetable to Euro 7, the importance of designing electric heavy commercial vehicle platforms developed in Türkiye in compliance with European type approval processes is increasing. This facilitates wider use of electric trucks produced in Türkiye in both the domestic market and export destinations.
R&D, Engineering and System Integration
R&D activities related to inverters, battery management systems and high-voltage safety components in electric propulsion systems focus on technical areas such as energy efficiency, thermal stability, insulation safety and lifetime performance monitoring. In the design of high-voltage systems, short-circuit resistance, protection against fire risk and controlled shutdown strategies in fault scenarios are validated through testing.
In heavy commercial electric vehicles where regenerative braking and mechanical brakes are used together, braking and driving control algorithms are of critical importance. Vehicle control units implement strategies that distribute regenerative and friction braking force by taking brake pedal demand, axle load and current road grip conditions into account. In this way, a balanced braking performance is achieved in terms of both energy recovery and safety.
Engineering teams in Türkiye are developing extended electronic architectures in fully electric heavy commercial vehicle projects, incorporating driver assistance systems, connected vehicle functions and fleet management solutions. This enables a transition to a digitalized logistics infrastructure in which battery status, energy consumption and maintenance needs can be monitored at fleet level.
The transition of electric truck production in Türkiye to a standards-compliant structure represents a transformation aligned with both environmental targets and European technical regulations. Technical provisions under Euro 7, UN R13 and ADR together define requirements relating to electrical safety, structural durability, braking performance and dangerous goods transportation.
Within this framework, increasing the level of compliance in domestic manufacturers’ electric heavy commercial vehicle platforms is becoming the sector’s new focal point in terms of sustainable transportation, safety and operational efficiency. At the same time, it supports the logistics ecosystem’s shift toward low-emission and digitalized solutions in line with Türkiye’s industrial and climate policies.
