Highlights | September 18, 2024
This was the 2nd day of IAA TRANSPORTATION
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On day 2 of IAA TRANSPORTATION, Dr. Robert Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, visited leading exhibitors, including Daimler Truck, Bosch, Continental, and MAN Truck & Bus.
He explored the latest developments in electric mobility and hydrogen technology. Hildegard Müller, President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), accompanied him on his tour, which focused on sustainability. Earlier, he also delivered a keynote speech at the IAA Conference.
On day 2 of IAA TRANSPORTATION, Dr. Robert Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, visited leading exhibitors, including Daimler Truck, Bosch, Continental, and MAN Truck & Bus.
He explored the latest developments in electric mobility and hydrogen technology. Hildegard Müller, President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), accompanied him on his tour, which focused on sustainability. Earlier, he also delivered a keynote speech at the IAA Conference.
One of the highlights was the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600, an electric truck with an impressive battery capacity of over 600 kilowatt-hours and a range of 500 kilometers without recharging. Habeck personally took the driver’s seat to get a closer look at the technology. At Bosch, Stefan Grosch, Managing Director and Director of Labor Relations, discussed the potential of battery-electric and hydrogen mobility, while MAN Truck & Bus showcased the fully electric charging process of the MAN eTGX. At the Continental booth, the focus was on autonomous driving, another key topic of the event.
Habeck emphasized: "The industry is clear: we can provide competitive vehicles that run without fossil fuels. We can shape the future. That's the message of IAA TRANSPORTATION," Habeck said after experiencing the technologies firsthand.
Numerous Talks and Discussions at the IAA Conference
On September 18, 2024, the IAA Conference once again served as a key venue for pivotal discussions on the mobility transition. High-profile speakers from business and politics highlighted the major topics of the industry in their keynotes:
The need for an accelerated shift to zero-emission vehicles and the role of electric vehicles and hydrogen as drivers of this transition were discussed. It was emphasized that the mobility transformation cannot succeed without a significant expansion of charging infrastructure.
Experts from the technology sector and logistics companies discussed the advantages of autonomous vehicles, particularly in freight transportation. Continental was highlighted as a pioneer, with new approaches to automating truck fleets aimed at enabling more efficient and safer logistics.
In addition to technical innovation, the importance of digitalization for the future of transportation was also emphasized. Digital platforms and connected systems were presented as essential components for efficient mobility in the future.
The topic of hydrogen was also discussed. The question posed was: Is the coexistence of both technologies a burden or truly the key to the global transformation of the logistics industry?
In addition, discussions covered the safety of autonomous driving, the current state of charging infrastructure, and the impact of GenAI on the transport and logistics industry.
Dan Priestley, Senior Manager of Semi at Tesla, also outlined Tesla Semi’s electrification strategy. Stan Zurkiewicz, CEO of DEKRA, spoke about myths surrounding the transformation and how they can be overcome.
The topic of hydrogen was also discussed. The question posed was: Is the coexistence of both technologies a burden or truly the key to the global transformation of the logistics industry?
In addition, discussions covered the safety of autonomous driving, the current state of charging infrastructure, and the impact of GenAI on the transport and logistics industry.
Dan Priestley, Senior Manager of Semi at Tesla, also outlined Tesla Semi’s electrification strategy. Stan Zurkiewicz, CEO of DEKRA, spoke about myths surrounding the transformation and how they can be overcome.
Awards Presented to Participants of the E.ON Truckathon
The participants of the eTruckathon were recognized for their achievements. Teams from renowned companies such as Daimler Truck, DB Schenker, DHL, Elflein Transport & Logistik, FAUN, Fiege, Gruber Logistics, Hyundai, Hylane, MAN, Renault, L. Stroetmann, and Trailer Dynamics took part in the first-ever eTruckathon, organized in collaboration with IAA TRANSPORTATION. Just before IAA TRANSPORTATION, the teams embarked on a joint electric demonstration drive. The starting point was the E.ON Drive TestingLab in Essen, where E.ON develops and tests charging solutions for electric mobility. The roughly 300-kilometer route took them along highways and country roads, providing a real-world test. Although the trucks had enough range for the entire journey, charging stops were planned to demonstrate the practicality of charging in everyday use. The final destination was the IAA grounds in Hannover.