Being a start-up in the field of heavy-duty vehicle electrification is no easy task these days. Recent events involving Volta Trucks, Northvolt, Nikola Motor and Quantron, to name but a few, have demonstrated this. These companies were forced to close prematurely due to the high capital consumption required by their ambitious development plans. However, SuperPanther, founded in China in 2022 by Chao Liu, who is also its president and CEO, has some key advantages over other automotive start-ups. Firstly, it was born and developed in the Chinese market, which is by far the most dynamic in terms of innovation content and sales volumes - in 2024, the domestic market absorbed over 230,000 zero-emission trucks and buses - in promoting and adopting advanced technology transport. Moreover, it is not presenting itself as a manufacturer of complete vehicles, but as a facilitator or enabler of electric mobility in the heavy-duty segment. This mission is based on a series of key technologies developed in-house - electrified axles, software and control systems, thermal management and charging solutions - that can be applied to vehicles produced by other manufacturers (OEMs), to fleets of large logistics operators or to those of cargo owners, in order to implement green strategies in road transport. Allestimenti & Trasporti interviewed Chao Liu, Founder, President and CEO of SuperPanther, on the prospects for the development of proprietary technologies and strategies for entering foreign markets, including those in Europe. 

SuperPanther's strategy 

How did the idea of acting as a facilitator in the electrification of road transport come about and how has it evolved? The strategy based on the concept of enabler," explains Chao Liu, "is part of our original business plan, especially for our approach to foreign markets. When we founded the company in 2022, one of our priority objectives was to have an international presence in the heavy-duty vehicle segment. In other words, we didn't just want to focus on China, we wanted to help other OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) electrify their vehicle ranges. With this vision in mind, we decided from the outset to target high value-added markets such as Europe. The EU is home to large, well-established OEMs that understand their customers' needs, but may not have the engineering know-how and specific technologies required for electric vehicles. As a specialist company, we can help them. The core of our enabler strategy is therefore to enter foreign markets by helping OEMs and their customers to decarbonise transport. We are open to different business models, as long as they create added value for customers. 

Electric truck, ecosystem and services

What are the cornerstones of this strategy, which is aimed at challenging and highly competitive markets such as the EU? It is essentially based on two pillars: the vehicle (the eTruck) and the ecosystem around it. With these two elements, we have the technological capability to help our partners develop high-performance electric trucks that can be brought to market in a short time. To achieve this, we have developed four key technologies in-house. The second pillar of the strategy concerns the entire ecosystem around the vehicle. It is not enough to sell an electric truck. We also need to help transport operators charge them and provide services. We have developed a wide range of solutions based on our charging technology. This allows us to support our partners in Europe, OEMs, logistics companies and freight owners by providing users with a complete ecosystem around the truck. These are the key points we are working on. Why did you start the development project with a 6x4 heavy-duty tractor? Is that the most common configuration in China? Before embarking on a new path, it is necessary to analyse the target market. In China, 40-50% of heavy-duty vehicles sold are in 6x4 configuration. There is a technical reason for this choice. With a 6x4 tractor, it is possible to reach the maximum weight of a 49-tonne articulated truck. It is therefore logical that 6x4s account for the majority of new registrations. 

The players in the partnership 

What is SuperPanther's strategy for Europe? What are its pillars? Who is it aimed at? Our "enabler" strategy involves different levels of partnership. At the top are the cargo owners, who have to deal with the ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) and SPTI (Science Based Targets Initiative) regulations that will come into force in 2030. These players - the cargo owners - will have to drive the decarbonisation of the entire value chain. A very important part of this concerns logistics operations. This is why large companies are looking for green solutions, especially for their logistics activities. In addition to cargo owners, our potential partners include logistics operators. DHL, which signed a cooperation agreement with us during IAA Transportation 2024, has very ambitious electrification targets for the coming years. Logistics groups can be our customers, both for defining the products that best meet their specific needs and for the ecosystem around the vehicles. Other key partners are OEMs, whom we can support on their journey to electromobility. Together with Steyr Automotive, we are developing a vehicle that will be produced in Austria and will offer the best technology. But we are open to other partnerships with European manufacturers who contact us. In China, battery swapping rather than recharging is widespread. Is this a solution that can be applied to European markets? The vehicle we offer in China, the Black Diamond, can use the battery swapping system, where the battery packs are swapped in the chassis, similar to cars. But we also have fast charging systems. In the domestic market, most customers opt for battery swapping, but do not replace the batteries. The reason is simple. Logistics companies are very cost-conscious (TCO, total cost of ownership). Replacing batteries means having spare batteries that someone has to buy and pay for. In short, battery swapping is an interesting solution, but it is suitable for very specific applications. For example, when very high charging efficiency is required. There are European operators who need battery swapping for their applications. But I believe that our charging solutions will be the most popular in the future. 

Black Diamond’s main technical features

What are the mail technical features of the Black Diamond? This model, which launched in China in 2024, is the first e-truck aimed at the global market. It is designed for heavy-duty applications involving minerals such as coal or heavy metal products. The truck is equipped with batteries with a capacity of up to 414 kWh, giving it a range of 300-350 kilometres, which is sufficient for most transport missions. The vehicle incorporates a number of technologies designed and built in China, including the electric axle, electric motor controller and domain controller. Operators using the Black Diamond are very pleased with its performance, particularly its energy efficiency. We have measured consumption of around 1.1 kWh per kilometre, which is 30% less than the previous generation. Performance is also excellent in extreme weather conditions, with outside temperatures as low as -30°C. We plan to introduce the same solutions in Europe. In 6x4 applications, there is an interesting interaction between the drive axles, which have three electric motors. These are controlled by an intelligent system that activates only one motor when the vehicle is unladen. On the motorway, however, two motors are activated, and when the vehicle is fully loaded and climbing a hill, the third motor is also activated. The control software is the key to everything, especially energy efficiency. In fact, we are able to guarantee greater operational autonomy with less installed power. This means changing the rules of the game by relying on technological innovation. What are the next steps in SuperPanther's European strategy? It is very simple. We will try to be a reference point, an enabler in the process of vehicle electrification. Our strategy is two-pronged. In China, we want to offer the best product and make sure it is ready for electric mobility, understand the needs of different applications, optimise costs and interact with the supply chain. In other geographical areas - not only in Europe - we want to help OEMs in the electrification process by providing them with our know-how. One last question: what is the secret of the SupewrPanther? A research and development team made up of a few talented engineers, a decentralised organisation and the speed of implementation that characterises China today.