Kässbohrer was joined by company representatives and industry stakeholders in a discussion about developments in the quest for zero-emission transportation.
At IAA Transportation 2024, Kässbohrer Board member, İffet Türken, introduced representatives from ZF, BPW, Ewals Cargo Care as well as stakeholders from railway company, CFL, and supply chain security association, TAPA, to an expert talk titled, ‘Future Outlook: Electrification & Intermodal’.
The moderator was Ben Kraaijenhagen, Technical Coordinator for the ZEFES project, who addressed the decarbonisation of freight transport. ZEFES is an EU-funded project which will contribute to the aims and objectives set out in the Green Deal and 2ZERO partnership, where Europe commits to be the first CO2 neutral continent by 2050.
Pointing to Kässbohrer’s new E-Reefer and electrified curtainsider, Türken emphasised the company’s commitment to sustainability goals including its environmental sustainability in manufacturing efforts at its MegaCampus plant in Turkey.
“Now, 92 per cent of the production’s electricity comes from our own rooftop solar power plant,” she said. “Sustainability of transport can only be achieved by a collaboration amongst stakeholders from all participants in transport and logistics. There is need to engage our ecosystem not just to innovate but also implement the solutions.”
Among the participants, ZF’s Dr Bernd Meurer explained the technology and advantages of ZF’s TrailTrax technology which integrates its 210 kW AxTrax 2 e-Axle, trailer EBS and battery system box into a trailer. This enables the trailer to bring traction onto the road, and re-gain energy while braking thanks to recuperation, in addition to plug-in charging. The obstacle being legislation permitting traction in the trailer.
BPW’s Daniel Twilling-Birkholz also stressed that the technology for electrified drive axles in trailers is already advanced, but that it will be necessary to see how the business case can proceed as soon as the authorities regulate this technology. He sees the industry as one step ahead when it comes to recuperation axles for electrified trailer cooling. BPW’s ePower technology is implemented in Kässbohrer’s new E-Reefer.
Peter Bouten from logistics company, Ewals Cargo Care, discussed the importance of intermodal transport and compatible E-trailers in reaching zero emission targets, adding that by making an exception for combined transport in the VECTO regulation, companies can promote the use of innovative technologies such as the E-trailer.
“Resolving the challenges in European legislation will support scaling up zero-emission trailers, and the development of new business models to achieve return of investment,” said Kraaijenhagen. “ZEFES continues to make zero emissions vehicles ready and feasible taking into account the intermodal possibilities while at the same time addressing transported asset security with expert project partners.”
In other news, Kässbohrer has successfully delivered one of its specialised transportation semi-trailers to a Polish Mercedes-Benz truck dealer.