Everything Electric Podcast

Episode: The Tesla Semi Has a Rival - And It's Already on the Road!
Host: Robert Llewellyn
Date: February 9, 2026
Guest: Wen Han, CEO of Windrose Technology
Location: Antwerp

Overview

In this episode, Robert Llewellyn sits down in Antwerp with Wen Han, CEO of Windrose Technology, a fast-rising challenger in the electric heavy goods vehicle (HGV) sector. Windrose has developed the Global E700—a globally certified electric long-haul truck with innovative features, including a central driving position and a focus on real-world driver needs. The conversation covers Windrose's unique entry strategy, global manufacturing, battery choices, user experience, and ambitions for reshaping the transport sector’s impact on climate change.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Windrose’s Mission and Global Approach

• Goal in a Sentence
  • Wen Han: “We're trying to redesign the way trucks are built and operated and designed for the global market.” [03:30]
• Global Design Philosophy
  • The Global E700 is designed for homologation and operation in Europe, North America, China, the UK, Australia/NZ, and beyond.
  • Central driving position eliminates the need for separate left/right-hand drive versions, streamlining manufacturing and scaling.
• Company Stats
  • 4 years old, 122 employees, and a mission to electrify 5% of global carbon emissions (matching trucking’s share in world GDP).

2. Global E700 Truck: Top-Line Details

• Specs & Simplicity in Naming
  • 700+ kWh LFP battery
  • 670 km real-world range (tested on 5 continents)
  • Certified in multiple markets
  • “We make it really simple. 700 is also about how many kilowatt hour battery we have as well as the approximate range.” — Wen Han [04:51]
• Central Driving Position
  • “No truck with a central driving position has ever been homologated before...” — Robert Llewellyn [06:35]
  • Designed for global markets; logistical and regulatory convenience.

3. The Start-Up Advantage and AI-Driven Globalization

• Learning and Growing Rapidly with AI
  • “AI's help... we can speak to local people or learn documents and regulations very, very quickly and cheaply. So we are aided by AI.” — Wen Han [07:19]
  • Staff has global experience; operates as a nimble, young team adapting to different markets at startup speed.

4. Wen Han’s Backstory and Motivation

• Career Path
  • Stanford Business School, Bridgewater (hedge fund), Plus AI (autonomous trucking), now founder/CEO of Windrose.
• Decision to Take on ‘Production Hell’
  • “Most people don't choose to go into production hell...” — Wen Han [11:13]
  • Emphasizes combining what you’re good at with finding passion, and the importance of building friendships in an established, conservative industry.
• Differentiation from Tesla Semi
  • Aerodynamics lead to certain design similarities, but Windrose has prioritized a sleeper cab to suit the needs of European overnight long-haul trucking.

5. Sleeper Cab & Driver-Focused Design

• Platform vs. Tesla’s Approach
  • “The biggest differentiation between yourself and Tesla is the choice to include a sleeper cab. Tesla have sort of said that they're thinking about hub to hub transport, less overnight transport. But for trucks to exist in Europe, it seems like the sleeper cab is a really essential component.” — Robert Llewellyn [14:27]
• Driver Wellbeing
  • “How can we make the drivers happier? ... We're also going to add refrigerator and curtains in the truck. ... We want to make it really driver friendly, not driver removing.” — Wen Han [15:21]
  • Reported comfort: “Just look at the space... it's absolutely enormous.” — Feedback from a driver, summarized by Robert Llewellyn [19:43]

6. Battery Chemistry—LFP Over NMC

• Safety & Longevity
  • “LFP offers 25 seconds of extreme escape time, which is enough for the driver...” — Wen Han [21:43]
  • Dual-use for battery storage after end-of-vehicle-life.
• Tech Development
  • Pursuing LMFP (adding manganese for improved performance and cost).

7. Charging Infrastructure & Economics

• Competitive Pricing & TCO Focus
  • Aiming for a ~$250k price point, higher than diesel but targeting lower total cost of ownership through fuel and maintenance savings.
• Infrastructure Ecosystem
  • “Charging is actually the least of my concerns because I know it will be built... the world is moving from fossil fuel into renewable.” — Wen Han [24:59]
  • Partners with leading energy & charging players in multiple continents.
  • Windrose trucks offer CCS and MCS compatibility—can charge from two chargers at once.
• Energy Services as Revenue
  • “The hardware is really the start... but the energy services around the truck will be the most important source.”

8. Manufacturing and Policy Navigation

• Distributed Manufacturing Model
  • Assembles in China, then completes final assembly in global markets (mitigating tariff & policy risks).
  • Trains local partners for assembly and service.
  • Emphasis on “gloco” (global + local) decentralized manufacturing.
• Tariff & Software Policy Challenges
  • “States sort of intervention is always present... That's why you've never heard me complain about the US tariffs. I believe it is 100% expected.” — Wen Han [33:19]
  • Focus is on creating jobs and opportunities in each market.

9. Technology Sharing, Branding & Partnerships

• Not Just White Labelling
  • Brand matters deeply to Windrose; “Windrose” is significant but neutral.
  • Will share technology (chassis, battery, powertrain) with other makers via revenue sharing—success-driven partnerships.
  • “We wouldn’t do anything to give up our brand. We really think that's one of the most valuable things we can do as business people.” — Wen Han [40:58]

10. Organizational Culture & Challenges

• Founder Reflections
  • “Being the founder... you’re the sewage system at the end... all the worst things eventually get filtered down to me and I just have to be able to filter the worst things.” — Wen Han [43:25]
  • Balances “I” decisions with “we” for teamwork and responsibility.
• Biggest Concern: Moving Fast Enough
  • “The biggest fear is not moving fast enough because we haven’t been fast enough... How do we get into people's minds?” — Wen Han [44:39]

11. Looking Forward: Wishes and Next Steps

• Wen’s Wish for Speed
  • “I wouldn't ask for money... I would ask for a fantastic VR tool where any trucker can... experience the truck without having to travel into the truck. That's my biggest wish.” [48:46]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Global Carbon Impact:
  • “Our goal is to use it to electrify 5% of the world's total carbon emissions, which is... about 5% of the world's GDP that is going into trucking.” — Wen Han [04:00]
• On the Reality of Start-Ups:
  • “Most people don't choose to go into production hell...” — Wen Han [11:13]
• Explaining Supply Chain Decision:
  • “Unlike some of predecessors… Windrose have been able to wait for that electric vehicle supply chain to mature and as such rapidly accelerate their delivery of their electric HGV.” — Robert Llewellyn [01:10]
• On Central Driving Position:
  • “With AI's help, we can speak to local people or learn documents and regulations very, very quickly and cheaply. So we are aided by AI.” — Wen Han [07:19]
• Driver Experience:
  • “It's definitely an enjoyable place to be. And whilst we were filming yesterday, it was very, very cold. So I was grateful to be able to hover in there, turn the temperature up to 31 degrees.” — Robert Llewellyn [19:43]
• On Battery Choice:
  • “LFP offers 25 seconds of extreme escape time, which is enough for the driver to immediately leave the vehicle. That's meaningfully longer than the NMC.” — Wen Han [21:43]
• On Manufacturing & Decentralization:
  • “We will authorize not only sellers and resellers and repairers, but also builders of our truck. That's how we think about decentralized manufacturing.” — Wen Han [33:19]
• On Organizational Responsibility:
  • “Being the founder of the company means you're at the... you're the sewage system at the end of the... at the bottom all the worst stuff eventually gets filtered down to me” — Wen Han [43:25]

Important Segment Timestamps

• Windrose’s mission and 1-sentence pitch: 03:30
• Global E700 specs & central driving position: 04:00–07:19
• Adopting AI for global expansion: 07:19
• Wen Han’s career background: 10:52–11:13
• Tesla Semi vs Windrose E700: 14:27–19:43
• Driver experience highlights: 19:43–21:11
• Battery chemistry choice explained: 21:11–23:51
• Charging infrastructure and ecosystem: 24:59–29:12
• Decentralized manufacturing and ‘gloco’: 33:19–36:54
• Branding, technology sharing, partnerships: 38:51–41:50
• Wen’s reflections on founder challenges: 43:12–44:14
• Concerns about speed and scaling up: 44:39–47:58
• If granted one wish—virtual truck test drives: 48:36–49:26

Tone & Style

The conversation is candid, witty, and full of analogies—reflecting both Llewellyn’s approachable, curious style and Wen Han’s thoughtful, sometimes self-effacing delivery. The tone is upbeat, pragmatic, and grounded—often acknowledging the challenges but with palpable optimism for the future of electrified logistics.

For More:
Watch for the accompanying video episode focused entirely on the Global E700 truck.
To see the truck in person or explore Windrose's technology, catch up on Everything Electric events or reach out through their platforms.