The adoption of electric trucks is continuously growing in Germany, with over 60,000 vehicles currently operating on the roads.
However, this increase presents a series of challenges that have prompted the “Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components” (PEM) chair at RWTH Aachen University to initiate the research project “DRivE.”
What is it about?
“Fuel cell and electric trucks are so new that current fleet management standards regarding communication do not apply to them,” explains Professor Achim Kampker, founder and director of the PEM Chair.
In dialogue with Mobility Portal Europe, the expert elaborates that, for these reasons, it is not possible to consult the status of the tank and battery through the current interface.
Furthermore, the existing data regarding tank and charging infrastructure does not provide information on compliance with vehicle size requirements, among other aspects.
“Additionally, various interfaces employ countless different standards depending on the manufacturer,” he emphasises.
This is because each producer uses its own standards and protocols for communication and data management, creating a diversity of systems that are not compatible with each other.
In this context, the “DRivE” project aims to enhance transparency in the operation of electric and fuel cell trucks by integrating these vehicles into the digital management of fleets and orders.
This will provide a clear view of the availability of charging infrastructure and offer feedback on the range of eTrucks.
Its main objective is to increase transparency and trust in the operation of zero and low-emission vehicles through the digitalisation of their administration.
How? “One way to build trust is to include a button in the user interface for journey planning that displays a route to the nearest charging station, even if charging is not planned in that instance,” he indicates.
The software specifically developed for this project will ensure safe navigation mapping, taking into account the vehicle’s current range and available charging points.
The pilot phase, which began in early July, has been divided into several steps, each designed to test specific development objectives.
In the first one, compliance with current requirements is tracked, except for the reservation of charging points, which is still under development.
The data management process has also been validated to ensure that specific functions for electric vehicles will be operational by the end of July.
The electric truck used in this stage will be road-tested by the logistics company Hammer, based in Aachen, Germany.
The “DRivE” project, whose full name is “Data-driven Route Planning in Road Freight Transport with Various Energy Supply Technologies,” will extend until the end of 2024.
During this period, the study will explore how companies in the logistics sector can be digitally supported in transitioning to environmentally friendly heavy vehicles for long-distance transport.
Route planning with charging stops is a key element, and while this practice is already common for electric cars, for trucks it is necessary to consider additional criteria such as “refuelling” power and parking space.
In this pilot phase, PEM and its partners aim to demonstrate that a solution of this kind can operate reliably and practically.
Real-world testing will also help identify and rectify any deficiencies in programming.
In this way, the objective of this project is to support the use and acceptance of alternatively powered trucks by increasing transparency regarding their operation.
Who are the members of “DRivE”?
The initiative involves the collaboration of seven partners, including two research institutes, three developers, and two application partners.
PEM, as part of RWTH Aachen University, contributes its expertise in electric and fuel cell vehicle technology.
The fir Institute from the same institution leads the project and supports commercialisation and business development.
ZeKju GmbH defines the interface that enables the extraction of vehicle data and its transmission to the platform developed by MANSIO GmbH, which calculates the remaining range of the truck and suggests service stations when necessary.
“Park Your Truck,” another partner, is planning the implementation of charging station reservations.
Hammer Advanced Logistics and Maintrans are also involved, operating trucks powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) and batteries, which will allow for the demonstration of research results.
The project is being funded to support the development of a marketable idea, and the partners will discuss how to proceed with the knowledge acquired.
“One possible option is to bring the results to market as a product,” reveals Kampker.
Given that commercialisation is a viable option alongside public dissemination of the project, a societal benefit is pursued.
“One significant finding is that standards need to be established and that digitalisation can support the market entry of new fuels,” emphasises the founder and director of the PEM Chair.
