The German Design Council has recognised BPW’s latest super-efficient transport technologies.
BPW was awarded German Innovation Awards for its eTransport drive axle (for light commercial vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes) and tyre pressure control system, AirSave.
The drive solution was reportedly developed for distribution vehicles in inner-city transportation. Unlike conventional concepts, the drive sits right in the axle rather than under the engine bonnet. This means it can be adjusted according to individual requirements or even retrofitted. Thanks to its scalable design, even larger vehicle classes over 7.5 tons can be equipped with eTransport.
BPW said the driving unit is economical and sustainable, of high-grade efficiency, quiet and emission-free, and also easy to integrate thanks to its compact design. Moreover, the driving unit is made even better by its energy recovery and active steering assistance. The first new vehicles with eTransport from BPW should be coming onto the market as early as this year.
“A growing number of cities are implementing driving bans, special requirements, and restrictions on diesel-powered vehicles. With BPW eTransport, transport vehicles – each over 7.5 tons – can be economically fitted or retrofitted,” the German Design Council jury said in a statement. “This is an interesting concept which has the potential to more quickly bring us to a more sustainable, emission-free, mobile future.”
AirSave, depending on mileage, can reportedly save up to thousands of euros worth of fuel and tyre wear annually.
This system improves the ecological balance of road transportation and help operators avoid unplanned downtime due to burst tyres.
AirSave is also compatible with telematics where drivers, dispatchers and other recipients automatically receive a warning via an app, online portal, email or SMS as soon as a tyre weakens.
The German Design Council declared BPW AirSave a ‘Winner’ – a title reserved for “innovations which drive the industry forward with their originality, application and efficacy.”
Dr Markus Kliffken, member of the Technical Development Executive Board at BPW said: “To receive two German Innovation Awards at the same time is not only a win for our company, but also for the entire transport and commercial vehicle industry. It means we can get a wider audience interested in the transformation of transport. We are particularly pleased that the focus on the user plays a central role in the jury’s review. That’s why we are dedicating the award to the freight forwarders, lorry drivers, and other professionals in the practice who have been actively involved in the development of eTransport and AirSave.”
Learn more about BPW AirSave here.