SUPERPANTHER eTOPAS 600

Some people will tell us: “Another electric truck!” Yet this time, there is one major difference compared to all its little friends: this latest arrival is Chinese. Even before its official launch on the European market, TruckStop correspondents Michael and Vassilis were the first in Europe to truly get behind the wheel of the new SuperPanther eTopas 600. An exclusive test drive that already allows us to discover a truck that is far from insignificant. And clearly, this newcomer deserves very close attention.

Very soon, TruckStop will also return with a full test drive in order to analyze in depth this new player that clearly intends to compete with the big names.

Let’s be clear: with only 2% of registrations on the European heavy truck market, BEV trucks still represent a very small share. But this could evolve much faster than we imagine with the massive arrival of Asian manufacturers.

Obviously, some will immediately raise a skeptical eyebrow. Memories of Nikola and Volta are still very present. The first collapsed after reaching a completely crazy stock market valuation of 28 billion dollars. The second tried its luck before ending up… bankrupt twice.

Several Chinese investors also abruptly left the European market after difficult beginnings, such as Viseon or CIMC Silvergreen. But since then, the landscape has changed. And it is certainly no coincidence that major European automotive groups are now looking at China with a completely different perspective. Volkswagen with XPENG, Stellantis with Leapmotor and Dongfeng… alliances are multiplying and clearly show that the cards are being reshuffled.

In the heavy truck sector as well, Chinese manufacturers now want to go on the offensive.

One of these new players carries a name that obviously does not go unnoticed: SuperPanther. For the moment, the brand is moving forward discreetly with a relatively light structure and a simple strategy: offering in Europe a single “ready-to-use” electric tractor unit with only one available cab.

But behind this apparent simplicity, the ambitions are enormous. The powertrain and chassis were developed entirely in-house by a team of 400 people. And from the very first kilometers, one thing becomes obvious: this truck was not developed lightly.

SuperPanther uses a cab coming from a Chinese manufacturer but heavily modified in order to meet European requirements. The dashboard was notably lowered in order to comply with the new regulations regarding field of vision. With its four-meter wheelbase, the eTopas 600 slightly exceeds the former European limit of 16.50 meters with a standard semi-trailer. A technical choice directly linked to the very large battery pack installed under the chassis.

Visually, it is difficult not to notice several European inspirations. The high shoulders immediately recall Scania, the grille evokes certain DAF models while the front section clearly gives a nod to the Actros.

Inside, the similarities are even more striking. General layout, switches, levers… the references to European standards quickly become obvious. Only the flat-bottom steering wheel brings a slightly more modern and dynamic touch.

With nearly 1,970 mm of interior height and a living volume of around 8.9 m³, the eTopas 600 immediately positions itself among the large cabs on the market. We are very close to the dimensions offered by a Scania S or a large-cab Actros.

However, several details remind us that this is still a pre-production vehicle. Some finishing points still need improvement: absence of lighting in certain storage compartments, surfaces sometimes too smooth, manual sunroof or even steering wheel adjustment range that is slightly limited. No driver airbag either.

And contrary to certain clichés about ultra-connected Chinese vehicles, multimedia equipment remains relatively basic. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are for example absent.

Where SuperPanther clearly wants to make the difference is under the cab. The eTopas 600 uses 621 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries, close in technology to those of the Mercedes eActros 600. The announced range reaches around 500 kilometers like the Benz, which today remains the benchmark. What surprises the most is the weight. During weighing at Steyr Automotive, where the vehicle will initially be assembled, the tractor showed around 10.8 tonnes empty without driver. That is approximately 700 kg less than a comparable eActros 600. And this immediately starts attracting attention.

The technical sheet of the eTopas 600 is immediately impressive: 692 kW (941 hp) in maximum power, 394 kW (536 hp) in continuous power and above all up to 43,000 Nm transmitted to the wheels. According to SuperPanther, this would allow the truck to climb 20% gradients with a 42-ton GCW. In other words, we are very far from a simple electric truck intended for regional distribution.

When the engineers launched the project in 2022, they started from a blank sheet. They therefore opted for an electric axle with two motors and two separate gearboxes. Yet another solution clearly recalling that of a benchmark manufacturer. The originality of the system lies in the asymmetry of the motors and gearbox ratios in order to permanently optimize energy efficiency. SuperPanther thus announces four genuinely usable gears.

Another particularly interesting point: the eTopas 600 is based on an 876-volt high-voltage architecture. In other words, almost 900 volts. Generally speaking, the higher the voltage, the better the energy efficiency and the more charging performances improve. And precisely, SuperPanther already wants to go further than certain European competitors.

The truck can be plugged in on both sides of the vehicle. Result: instead of being limited to 400 kW with a single CCS plug, charging power can exceed 600 kW. According to the manufacturer, going from 20 to 80% battery would take only 38 minutes. Clearly, this is starting to become extremely serious.

SuperPanther particularly highlights its “X-in1” system, a high-voltage controller bringing together several functions in a single unit. Objective: reduce weight, limit the number of components, simplify wiring harnesses and reduce failure risks. The system also uses silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors, known to be more efficient and more heat resistant.

Regarding thermal management, the eTopas 600 could also become the first European BEV heavy truck equipped with a low-temperature heat pump capable of operating down to -30°C thanks to the R290 refrigerant.

Finally, software is an integral part of SuperPanther’s strategy. Developed in-house, it manages batteries, converters and control strategies with nearly 2,000 data points distributed throughout the vehicle.

“We have total transparency on what happens inside this truck and know exactly what can still be improved,” explains Michael Ruf, Europe Director of SuperPanther.

The manufacturer also does not hide its ambitions and is already working on the next generation of high-voltage technology.

One thing is certain: after this first exclusive driving experience carried out by TruckStop, the SuperPanther eTopas 600 already appears as a player to watch very closely on the European market.