“Electrification in freight and passenger transport is in full swing,” says Professor Antonios Papaemmanouil, head of the Institute of Electrical Engineering at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. The e-mobility transport forum at the Technopark in Zurich on September 10 will address the impact on logistics.
Prominent participants and guest speakers will describe the steps necessary to achieve net-zero emissions and a more sustainable future in transportation. The focus will be on the electrification and, in some cases, automation of logistics centers, trucks, and public transport services. Efficient energy and data management are, of course, essential components of charging, storage, and operation. SRF presenter Monika Schärer will guide the audience through the development of new technologies, innovative business models, and their integration into existing energy infrastructures and operational processes.
At the top in Europe
To kick things off, Christoph Schreyer from the Swiss Federal Office of Energy will report on the consequences of CO2 emission regulations for heavy vehicles in Europe and incentives for more efficient vehicles. Switzerland leads Europe in new registrations of electric trucks – partly due to the current exemption from the heavy vehicle fee (LSVA).
Among others, Julian Galonska from Siemens Switzerland will address the challenges faced by logistics companies when electrifying their commercial vehicle fleets – from high initial investment and limited network capacity to ensuring reliable operation.
A. Papaemmanouil
The Galliker company is already setting an example by driving electric vehicles into the future. "E-Power 2.0" is taking the company's expansion into sustainable truck operations to the next phase, and Peter Galliker has the opportunity to explain his strategy. Step by step, all locations will be equipped with the necessary infrastructure. Charging infrastructure, battery storage systems, and dedicated medium-voltage local networks are in the planning stages. The required software enables efficient operation and a seamless interaction between the company's own photovoltaic power, charging infrastructure, battery storage, and buildings.
Different requirements
Robert Bianchetti explains why many Swiss companies want to electrify their freight fleets but struggle to determine the ideal fleet composition and charging strategy because electric trucks face conflicting requirements regarding range, charging capacity, and charging time. The INFRAS research project, in collaboration with numerous Swiss logistics companies, is identifying their individual electrification requirements. From this information, a series of use cases are synthesized, and the total operating costs, environmental impacts, required charging capacities, and grid effects are analyzed.
Bianchetti provides an overview of existing obstacles, national eTruck electromobility scenarios for Switzerland, regionalized charging requirements on national roads (which serve as a quantitative basis for the planned ASTRA tender for eTruck fast charging stations) and a parameterized Excel tool for modeling the electrification of truck fleets, which was applied in a case study with Lidl.
Electric power tunnel near Galliker in Altishofen
The presentation by Matthias Rödter (Swiss Transit Lab Association) should also be of interest. Less than ten years ago, the first automated vehicles traveled at no faster than walking pace. "Today, vehicles navigate driverless through normal traffic in the USA and China." Where does Switzerland stand in this development, he asks? And what is the goal of the pilot project by Swiss Transit Lab, the Canton of Zurich, and SBB (Swiss Federal Railways)?
The program is available for download
