Trucks will stay essential to load transport in the forthcoming decades. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and their accomplices have built up an idea for the truck of the future, including Europe-wide approval for the utilization of LHV trucks (Longer Heavier Vehicles), diesel hybrid drives and a multifunctional driver’s cab.

In the project, “Truck2030” scientists at TUM investigated all aspects of the truck of the future and will present their results at the IAA Commercial Vehicles trade show in Hanover. Here are the most important results in the areas of People, Transport and Logistics, Environment and Politics:

People:

The concept is based on the supposition that the truck of the future will drive on the highway automatically. Drivers would then have the capacity to put the time spared in their own particular wellbeing. The driver’s cabin presented by the group is outfitted with cables and pulleys which can be utilized for work out. A game-oriented aspect will be added in order to increase motivation, for example, based on a virtual reward system.

Transport and logistics:

Long trucks with a length of 25.25 meters are perfect for effective payload transport. Here two LHV trucks can supplant three typical length trucks. This makes it conceivable to spare fuel, bringing about advantages to nature and the economy. What’s more, the aggregate number of trucks out and about will likewise be decreased.

Environment:

The utilization of LHV trucks alone could cut CO2 outflows by 20 percent because of lower fuel utilization with similar cargo loads.

Utilizing diesel module hybrid drives could lessen CO2 emanations by another 10 percent, the best solution from both the natural and economic perspectives. Based on current state of art, an exclusively electric drive prepare would not be attainable, since a battery fit for giving adequate energy to the important range would be too substantial and too overwhelming.

Politics:

A significant prerequisite for the realization of the concept is the approval of the use of LHV trucks in all of Europe. In their investigations, the scientists successfully refuted counterarguments such as lower driving safety and increased road wear.

Infrastructure:

Use of the diesel plug-in hybrid will require additional charging stations on highways. Electric cars will also be able to use these charging stations.

The Technical University of Munich and the Regensburg University of Applied Sciences are working together with partners from industry and research on a new vehicle concept for future long-distance road haulage. Through the cooperation of research with manufacturers and customers, different experiences are brought in and every aspect of the resulting truck is considered.

The project objective is the development of a vehicle concept for road freight transport, taking a holistic view of the powertrain and the design of tractor and semi-trailer.