Research and development on energy- and resource-saving technologies for future commercial vehicles

Urban and interurban road freight transport is one of the fastest growing modes of transportation. Today 20 percent of all transport-related CO2 emissions in Germany are caused by commercial vehicles. Due to this situation new innovation technologies for future vehicles are needed, especially to improve energy efficiency and to minimize emissions in a cost-effective way. Amongst others, powertrain electrification and reduction of the driving resistance, e.g. by means of lightweight technologies, are specific possibilities to achieve these goals, which have to be holistically matched to the particular transport task. In the context of this paper a systematic approach for analysis and validation of novel technol-ogies is presented regarding light commercial vehicles within urban traffic applications. Based on Modelica / Dymola libraries new powertrain technologies were analyzed with respect to the individual transport solution and the customer’s boundaries conditions. These results are considered in the design and dimensioning of commercial vehicles. In the holistic approach to the transport task, this considers the advantages and disadvantages of the different technologies and is evaluated by a total cost of ownership (TCO) and well-to-wheel analysis of two vehicle concepts. The result is a coordinated systematic design of the car structure and the powertrain, than can also partially prototypically implemented and validated