VoltFracht Wiki — Getting Started Guide¶

Welcome to VoltFracht, an electric freight dispatching and logistics management simulation developed by solo indie developer Sebastian Giove. In VoltFracht, you act as the company dispatcher (Disponent). You choose the freight, select route strategies, and manage fleet expansion across Europe while your autonomous e-trucks handle the driving and charging navigation.

1. Platform Availability & Account System¶

VoltFracht is designed for seamless cross-platform play across desktop and mobile devices:

• Web Browser: Play directly at voltfracht.sgio.app with no installation required. The web client receives instant game updates first.
• iOS / iPadOS: Available on the Apple App Store for iPhone and iPad (requires iOS 15.0 or later).
• Android: Available on the Google Play Store.
• Account Synchronization: A single account (Google, Apple, or email login) syncs your fleet, capital, and progress seamlessly across browser and mobile apps. You can also start instantly as a guest without creating an account.
• Monetisation & Privacy: VoltFracht is completely free-to-play. Progress is non-compulsory; optional coin packs and a PRO subscription (€4.99/month) are available. The game collects no personal user data from mobile clients.

2. Onboarding & Home Depot Selection¶

When starting your company, you select a home depot city and home country:

The Neighboring Country Rule¶

In VoltFracht, unlocking any country automatically grants you operational access to that country plus all directly adjacent neighboring countries.

Optimal Starting Location: Germany
When choosing your starting home depot, Germany (Deutschland) is widely considered the best choice. Because Germany shares borders with 9 neighboring countries (Denmark, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Netherlands), selecting a German home depot grants immediate access to 10 European nations from day one without spending coins or capital to unlock new borders.

3. First Steps & Starting Capital Strategy¶

Launch Strategy: Don't Wait!¶

Your company begins with a single 7.5-tonner e-truck in your home depot and a starting cash balance.

Developer Recommendation: Do not sit idle waiting for your first truck to finish its run! Use your starting capital immediately to purchase a 2^nd or 3^rd 7.5t truck. Having multiple vehicles active from the start accelerates cash flow and levels up your company much faster.

Beginner Bonus (+10%)¶

All newly registered companies receive a +10% Beginner Bonus on the base payout of every completed job for their first 7 days. This bonus is automatically added to delivery payouts and itemized in your financial logs.

Leveling & Depot Expansion¶

• Company Leveling: Buying additional depot slots increases your company level (e.g., spending €250'000 for a 2^nd depot slot levels your account up to Level 2).
• Depot Slots: Depot capacity caps the number of active, dispatchable trucks. Unneeded vehicles can be stored in the Hall to free up depot slots without selling them.

4. Understanding the Dispatching Loop¶

flowchart LR
    A["Select Freight<br/>from Exchange"]
    B["Autonomous Run<br/>& Auto-Charging"]
    C["Payout & Progress<br/>Money, Coins & XP"]

    A --> B --> C

1. Select Cargo: Open the Orders, filter by tonnage class or cargo type, and evaluate payout vs. route distance.
2. Dispatch Truck: Once assigned, the truck autonomously routes through real-world road networks, calculating required charging stops based on payload and battery capacity.
3. Collect Payouts: Upon arrival, your account receives the freight payout, Coins, and experience points. Reinvest earnings into new truck models, higher tonnage licenses, or depot expansions.

5. Real-World Data Engine¶

VoltFracht integrates authentic European geographical, infrastructural, and economic data streams directly into its core gameplay loop. Every delivery calculation, battery consumption rate, and charging cost reflects real-world physics and real-time European infrastructure.

Data Engine Architecture¶

Charging Infrastructure (OpenChargeMap)¶

VoltFracht utilizes real-world data from OpenChargeMap to plot actual heavy electric vehicle charging locations:

• Real Locations & Power Outputs: Includes stations delivering up to 600 kW charging power.
• Plug Availability & Queueing: Plug status (free/occupied) updates live. If all plugs at a station are occupied, trucks wait with a live countdown timer until a plug opens.
• Infrastructure Gaps: In regions where real-world charging infrastructure is sparse, charging stops require strategic range management.

Dynamic Electricity Costs (ENTSO-E)¶

Charging expenses are governed by official daily electricity market data provided by ENTSO-E (European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity):

• Country-Specific Rates: Electricity prices fluctuate daily depending on the country where the truck charges.
• Margin Impact: High electricity prices in certain countries directly squeeze profit margins on long-distance cross-border runs.

Topography & Weather Physics¶

• SRTM Elevation: Driving up mountain passes or steep gradients significantly increases energy consumption per kilometer, while downhill stretches allow energy recuperation.
• Weather Engine: Real daily temperature cycles impact battery resistance and cooling demand, factored directly into automated route planning.