Volvo Trucks, Hyundai, Renault, BYD, Volkswagen and more

With four months remaining until IAA TRANSPORTATION 2024, scheduled from September 17 to 22 in Hannover, the event is already seeing a significant increase in exhibitor registrations and international participation. The numbers: there are already 13% more exhibitor registrations compared to the same period in 2022. The proportion of international exhibitors has risen to 70%, up by eight percentage points from 2022. In addition to the high level of international participation, this year's IAA TRANSPORTATION will feature many new exhibitors. About 26% of the exhibitors are participating for the first time. One of them is Tesla. The Austin, Texas-based company will showcase the Semi Truck. Also, Mercedes-Benz Trucks plans to highlight the eActros 600, and MAN Truck & Bus will present their expanded portfolio of zero-emission trucks. In addition to MAN and Mercedes-Benz Trucks, companies such as BMC, BYD, B-ON, DAF, Ford, Ford Trucks, Iveco, Kia, Maxus, Piaggio, Renault, Scania, Tesla, Toyota, Volvo, and VW Commercial Vehicles will display their innovative products in the commercial vehicle segment. Additionally, companies like AKKODIS, Aptiv, AAE EnerCharge, Here, Canonical, LG Energy, MunichElectrification, Samsung SDI, and SOSLab will be covering topics such as infrastructure, batteries, software-defined vehicles, and autonomous driving.

Volvo Trucks is expanding its efforts in alternative powertrains and plans to start field tests with hydrogen combustion engines in 2026. These engines use high-pressure direct injection (HPDI) technology, which has already been successfully applied in Volvo’s gas trucks. This technology allows for self-ignition by injecting a small amount of pilot fuel at high pressure before adding hydrogen. The benefits of this technology include improved energy efficiency, reduced fuel consumption, and increased engine performance. The market launch of these vehicles is planned for the end of the decade. Volvo Trucks intends to offer these hydrogen engines as a complement to their existing electric, fuel cell, biogas, biodiesel, and HVO-compatible vehicles.

Hyundai has unveiled a fuel cell truck named Xcient Fuel Cell Truck with autonomous driving technology in Las Vegas. The truck, equipped with Plus SuperDrive technology from software specialist Plus, can achieve Level 4 autonomy. This means the truck can drive fully autonomously without driver intervention as long as it is on predefined routes. The Xcient Fuel Cell Truck is equipped with two 90 kW fuel cell systems and a 350 kW electric motor, giving it a range of over 450 miles (725 kilometers). Hyundai plans to test this truck in the USA, Europe, and Australia to enhance the safety and efficiency of autonomous driving.

Renault and Software République have introduced the "U1st" concept vehicle in Paris. This vehicle consists of a multi-service module ("Pop-up") on a platform for light electric commercial vehicles (FlexEVan). The "Health Pop-Up" integrates 21 medical applications and 12 innovations, including an AI-supported avatar. Operated by a medical assistant, the module enables teleconsultations with medical professionals. Flexis, the joint venture between Renault and Volvo for new electric transporters, is also involved in the project. The vehicles are scheduled for production starting in 2026. The goal of the project is to improve healthcare services through connected technologies and smart devices. It aims to enable continuous monitoring of health data while ensuring patient privacy.

BYD has introduced a new electric double-decker bus named BD11 in London, specifically designed for public transportation in the UK. The vehicle is 10.9 meters long and can accommodate up to 90 passengers. One of the most notable features of the BD11 is the integration of the innovative Blade Battery, which offers a capacity of up to 532 kWh. This battery, developed in-house by BYD, enables a charging capacity of 500 kW and supports dual-gun charging, allowing parallel charging via two plug-in chargers, reducing the charging time to just two hours. Additionally, BYD utilizes two hub motors with a maximum output of 150 kW each. These motors are based on SiC technology and are part of a 6-in-1 assembly that includes functions such as motor control, steering, air compressor, and DC converter. The Blade Battery is integrated into the bus's chassis structure, leading to weight reduction and increased stability.

Volkswagen Group Retail Germany (VGRD GmbH), in collaboration with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, has unveiled the ID. Buzz Green. For this project, an ID. Buzz was dismantled and completely rebuilt at the Volkswagen Automobile Hannover GmbH facility in Lehrte. The vehicle now features a wooden floor, sustainable tires, a new dashboard, and a "SolarCafé." The energy required to operate the coffee machine comes from a specially installed solar roof, which also supports the electric vehicle's battery, providing an estimated annual range increase of up to 1,560 kilometers. The exterior includes ash wood-enhanced rims made with self-generated electricity and two rear-mounted wooden e-bikes. The vehicle is expected to be showcased at various events and exhibitions in the future. The design was created by apprentices.

E.ON and DHL have formed a partnership to expand the charging infrastructure for electric trucks at DHL distribution centers. E.ON will handle the planning, construction of fast-charging and transformer stations, installation, load management, and operation of the charging stations. These stations will be set up to allow vehicles to charge both at the loading dock and at external parking spaces. Special solutions like overhead cable guide systems will enable charging even in tight spaces.

The E.ON partnership will initially start in Hamburg with five charging points and expand to 250 charging points over the next three years. Approximately ten distribution centers are expected to receive such truck charging points this year. In the long term, the plan is to equip all major DHL logistics locations with truck traffic with the new charging infrastructure. The charging power will vary depending on the application, ranging from 150 kW for transfer vehicles to 400 kW for long-haul trucks.

The South Tyrolean company Alpitronic plans to launch a new generation of high-power charging stations for electric trucks. These stations are set to hit the market in early 2025 and will initially be tested by E.ON customers. The new charging stations will feature integrated load management, intelligently distributing the available energy among the vehicles in the depot. This enables faster charging for trucks that need to be quickly ready for operation again.