Going electric
Journeys that cover flat ground are more efficient than ones that regularly go uphill and downhill. The vehicle’s engine works harder to push it uphill, and then braking wastes energy coming downhill.
We are helping develop the Hybrid on Demand (HoD) system to harness all that lost energy and put it to good use.
With the HoD system, an electric motor charges up energy from the drivetrain as the vehicle goes downhill. Then when the engine needs an extra boost (like when it’ is going uphill again), the electric motor kicks in and gives that energy back.
We want at least 70% of trucks to carry HoD technology by 2040.
This project is part of our ‘30-by-30’ commitment to reduce the road transport industry’s CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030.
To learn more about the TRANSFORMERS project, go to www.transformers-project.eu
PROJECT INFO:
Start date: 01/09/2013
End date: 31/03/2017
Partners: VOLVO Technology AB, DAF Trucks NV, Schmitz Cargobull AG, Van Eck Beesd BV, Procter & Gamble Services Company NV, IRU Projects ASBL, Robert Bosch GmbH, Uniresearch BV, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft EV, TNO, Forum de Laboratoires nationauz européens de recherche routière (FEHRL), Institut Français des Sciences et Technologies des Transports, de l’Aménagement et des Reseaux (IFSTTAR), Virtual Vehicle.
TRANSFORMERS
Trucks that adapt to suit their cargo and location
TRANSFORMERS project is all about getting creative to improve fuel efficiency. We are developing trucks that can be configured and can adapt their engines and height of the trailer, depending on the volume of the cargo they are carrying for an optimised transport efficiency.
In goods transport, one size does not fit all. But with a bit of innovation, we can develop a system that does fit all.
Have a look at the video above. It’s really quite clever.
TRANSFORMERS project aims to create trucks that use 25% less energy per tonne-kilometere than the standard vehicles in use today. Considering trucks shift more than 6,000 billion tonne-kilometeres per year worldwide, 25% is an enormous saving.
We have come up with two ways of making this happen:
Trucks that adapt to their cargo
Trucks are designed to carry as much as possible. But when the cargo is heavy, it can’t carry as much, so there’s spare space in the trailer.
Since that empty space is usually at the top, the container is higher than it needs to be. That extra height just sticks up in the air, causing extra wind resistence and forcing the truck’s engine to work harder.
We are developing trucks that can lower the roofs of their trailers and cut out that extra space. Then you just raise the roof again when you need to use the extra space for carrying something lighter.
Going electric
Journeys that cover flat ground are more efficient than ones that regularly go uphill and downhill. The vehicle’s engine works harder to push it uphill, and then braking wastes energy coming downhill.
We are helping develop the Hybrid on Demand (HoD) system to harness all that lost energy and put it to good use.
With the HoD system, an electric motor charges up energy from the drivetrain as the vehicle goes downhill. Then when the engine needs an extra boost (like when it’ is going uphill again), the electric motor kicks in and gives that energy back.
We want at least 70% of trucks to carry HoD technology by 2040.
This project is part of our ‘30-by-30’ commitment to reduce the road transport industry’s CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030.
To learn more about the TRANSFORMERS project, go to www.transformers-project.eu
PROJECT INFO:
Start date: 01/09/2013
End date: 31/03/2017
Partners: VOLVO Technology AB, DAF Trucks NV, Schmitz Cargobull AG, Van Eck Beesd BV, Procter & Gamble Services Company NV, IRU Projects ASBL, Robert Bosch GmbH, Uniresearch BV, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft EV, TNO, Forum de Laboratoires nationauz européens de recherche routière (FEHRL), Institut Français des Sciences et Technologies des Transports, de l’Aménagement et des Reseaux (IFSTTAR), Virtual Vehicle.
Partners
Related documents
Partnering with the IRU
Join the futur
Related news
3 May 2023 Bath
European road freight rates Q1 2023: contract rates start falling as spot rates continue to drop
3 May 2023 Lingen
Weaponising biases: the women leading road transport into the future
8 Mar 2023 Brussels
IRU underscores parking and alternative fuel issues in European Parliament
20 Feb 2023 Geneva
Road transport organisations ink agreement to tackle major challenges
15 Feb 2023 Munich
The future of coach transport is green, inclusive and digital
6 Feb 2023 Brussels
IRU social affairs body steps up efforts on driver treatment and shortages
1 Feb 2023 Brussels
Industry groups warn on new EU truck CO₂ rules risk to supply chains
16 Dec 2022 Málaga
Málaga CF: Ex-pro football player continues to serve his boyhood club
8 Dec 2022 Paris
TotalEnergies joins IRU to build alliances, meet environmental goals
2 Dec 2022 Geneva
Figure of the Month: 4,620
25 Nov 2022 Brussels
Ukraine: IRU calls on European Commission to ease border jams with TIR
14 Nov 2022 Geneva
Europe driver shortage to triple by 2026 if no action: new IRU report
3 Nov 2022 Geneva
European road freight rates soften after hitting another all-time high in Q3
11 Oct 2022 Brussels
East-west connectivity calls for sustainable routes
10 Oct 2022 Thessaloniki
Black Sea digital boost in focus for key Middle Corridor
20 Sep 2022 Geneva
IRU launches interactive Ukraine-EU border crossing map
19 Sep 2022 London
Shell joins IRU eyeing green energy engagement with sector
2 Sep 2022 Geneva
One in ten European truck drivers missing as shortage escalates