MOIA, Horizon Aircraft, MAN Engines, PowerCell, Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge

In partnership with the City of Hamburg and Volkswagen, MOIA will start testing autonomous shuttles for public transit in mid-2025. The project aims to integrate autonomous driving into urban mobility, making public transport safer and more efficient. These tests will explore how the technology can blend into existing networks and set new standards for autonomous transportation. Project ALIKE will cover a 37-square-kilometer area from the city park to the Elbe River, expanding public transit through autonomous vehicles. Two fully electric vehicle models will be tested: the Volkswagen ID. Buzz AD, designed for urban routes with space for four passengers, and the accessible HOLON model, which can carry up to 15 passengers. Both models will have safety drivers onboard. The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is supporting the project by conducting surveys on public acceptance of autonomous driving, aiming to gather input from at least 1,000 participants by the end of 2024. The project has received €26 million in funding from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport. 

Horizon Aircraft has developed the Cavorite X7, an innovative hybrid aircraft combining turboprop efficiency with the vertical takeoff and landing flexibility of an eVTOL (electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing). Designed to take off and land vertically, the Cavorite X7 will switch to turboprop mode mid-flight, reducing energy use by up to 30% compared to conventional aircraft. The Cavorite X7 uses 14 lift fans integrated into the wings for vertical takeoff, covered by sliding panels during flight to allow conventional flying. With a payload capacity of 680 kilograms and a range of over 800 kilometers, it is suited for a variety of tasks, from emergency aid to regional cargo and passenger transport. Unique to the Cavorite X7 is its rapid 30-minute in-flight and on-ground battery recharge. Horizon Aircraft is currently conducting test flights with a scale model, minimizing technical risks as they progress toward the full version. Recently, the Cavorite X7 received the Industry Excellence Award for Innovation and Technology from the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC). 

In Hanover, MAN Engines introduced MAN BatteryPack, a high-density, NMC-based battery solution for container applications. The modular BatteryPack can scale up to 534 kWh to meet demanding industrial energy requirements. MAN is focused on sustainability, ensuring closed-loop recycling for batteries at the end of their life and offering automated inspections and refurbishments for secondary use. MAN Engines also debuted its enhanced E32 gas engine line, featuring optimized cylinder heads and a new V12 model with a mechanical efficiency of 44% that meets strict emission standards. 

PowerCell is actively involved in the EU-backed H2MAC project, aimed at developing hydrogen fuel cells for the construction and mining sectors, able to withstand the harsh environments of heavy-duty machinery. PowerCell is working with partners like German filtration expert Mann + Hummel and Spanish machinery maker ZB Group. Operational tests are scheduled for 2026, with a 120 kW excavator and a 240 kW crusher set for real-world trials in a Spanish quarry by 2027. 

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has rolled out the Multivan eHybrid 4Motion and California eHybrid 4Motion, equipped with advanced all-wheel drive and the latest generation of plug-in hybrid systems. The 1.5 TSI evo2 turbocharged engine, delivering 177 hp, works with two electric motors—85 kW on the front axle and 100 kW on the rear—producing a combined torque of 350 Nm. The high-voltage battery’s 19.7 kWh capacity nearly doubles that of the previous model, allowing speeds up to 130 km/h in electric-only mode and up to 200 km/h in hybrid mode.