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vision – THE ZF MAGAZINE
3/2018
3/2018
vision
Shaping
SMART LOGISTICS
vision – THE ZF MAGAZINE
ZF Friedrichshafen AG AUTONOMOUS VAN FORMUL A E EVERY WHERE
88038 Friedrichshafen
Germany Mastering the last mile with How ZF is bringing electric
zf.com innovative ZF technology drives to all vehicles
Contents 32
CL E A N A IR A ND
EF F ICIENC Y GO X X L
Safe and pollution-free: that’s the promise heralding
08 electrified autonomous commercial vehicles. ZF’s
T IME FOR A R EB OOT electromechanical steering system prototype makes
this a reality.
Freight transport is rapidly increasing worldwide.
More and more freight and delivery vehicles
are clogging up city streets. The logistics system
34
as we know it is threatening to collapse. Improved
interconnectedness could be the answer to NE W HEIGH TS
significantly improving efficiency.
Major Chinese corporations are working intensely
on the technologies of tomorrow, one of which
is artificial intelligence (AI). And ZF is right there
16
alongside them.
ZF HIGHLIGHT
S AT I SFAC T ION INCLUDED –
R IGH T TO YOUR D OOR 37
Logistics service providers deliver billions of
SPE A K ER S ’ COR NER
Innovatively
shipments annually. An autonomous concept vehicle
developed by ZF is revolutionizing the “last mile” Norway has accumulated years of experience
to the benefit of both drivers and customers. with electric vehicles on a grand scale. How does
e-mobility work there, and what aspects could
Lightweight
we adopt in other countries?
20
AU TONOMOUS CO S T- CU T T ING 38
ZF is using smart concepts to demonstrate how
MIR ACULOUS
logistics can be made safer and more cost-effective
both on the road and at the depot. The key to it all is T R A NSFOR M AT ION
autonomous driving features.
Remanufacturing is a sustainable alternative to A K N E E A I R B A G I N A FA B R I C H O U S I N G? I N D U S -
new production. Discover how ZF is giving products TRY EXPERTS SAID IT COULDN’ T BE DONE. BUT
a new lease on life as we take you on a tour of our T H AT ’ S P R E C I S E LY W H AT Z F W I L L B E B R I N G I N G
24 Frýdlant location in the Czech Republic. T O V O L U M E P R O D U C T I O N I N 2 019 .
A COMPA N Y F UL L OF ENER G Y
ZF supplies an incredibly diverse range of electric
drive systems that power everything from bicycles The heavier a vehicle is, the higher its emissions under
to heavy goods trains. This portfolio makes the combustion and the lower its range under electric power.
technology company unique in the mobility sector C AT EGOR IE S All the more reason to minimize the weight of individual
components. ZF’s new knee airbag is much more than just
a standard improvement in this respect. At just 700 grams,
The ZF knee airbag is the lightest and
28 3 Editorial
smallest the industry has ever seen.
the module weighs some 30% less than comparable prod-
ucts. So how did we do it? A world first: the airbag hous-
T HE DY N A MIC SEDA N 4–5 ZF Moment
ing is made of fabric instead of metal. The concept can
ZF’s new active damping system, sMOTION, takes 6–7 Facts and Figures be adapted to the needs of any market or vehicle model.
driving comfort, dynamics and safety to a whole Yet another advantage is that it requires around 20% less
14 – 15 Did You Know?
new level. That’s a huge plus when it comes to installation space. So it’s not just the lightest in the indus-
highly automated driving. 44 – 46 In a Nutshell try, but also the most compact. In early 2019, a major
European manufacturer will be starting volume production
46 Masthead
of our fabric airbag module.
47 ZF Highlight
Smart
Am I the only one who gets riled by double-parked
delivery vehicles blocking the street and causing jams?
I see it all the time. And the couriers are just as stressed
logistics is
out. Time is short, and parking space is a rare commod-
ity, so it’s no wonder they resign themselves to annoying
other road users and just pulling up wherever they can. ·
·
the way
And last but not least, logistics companies themselves ·
are battling to solve this issue of the last mile. Looking 3
·
for parking spaces and constantly getting in and out of ·
·
forward
the van slows down deliveries and consequently drives
up costs.
Fortunately, I can promise you that next-generation
for mobility
mobility will make this scenario a thing of the past. So
what is ZF doing about it? We’re applying our unique
system expertise to deliver high-precision smart logis-
tics solutions so that, for example, a delivery vehicle
can look for its own parking space, or can follow cou-
riers as if on a virtual leash while they make deliveries
on foot.
It’s no coincidence that we’re making great strides in
autonomous driving features specifically for commer-
cial vehicles. My view is that we’ll see early adoption
of these in manageable areas like depots or specially
designated downtown zones.
ZF IS WORKING RESOLUTELY TO ENSURE We’ll be exhibiting many more exciting innovations
THAT ITS SYSTEM SOLUTIONS ARE FULLY at this year’s International Motor Show. But these are
NET WORKED, AND TO PL AY A MA JOR ROLE not just a vague promise: we’re already delivering
IN SHAPING THE FUTURE OF MOBILIT Y next-generation mobility products. Read on for a taste
THROUGH DIGITALIZ ATION. of what is, and what’s to come!
Wolf-Henning Scheider
Chief executive officer
ZF Friedrichshafen AG
·
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·
5
·
·
·
Z F MOMEN T
Heavyweights Towboats and barges are a common sight on US inland waterways. According the American Waterways Operators
industry association, 60 percent of US grain destined for export is transported this way. A typical "tow," which
consists of 15 interconnected cargo barges, transports the same volume of cargo as 1,050 large semi-trailer
on the water
trucks. Our photo shows the 23-meter long, 11-meter wide American Power on the Ohio River. Two 360°-steerable
azimuth thrusters (series 5000) from ZF propel this American Commercial Barge Line tugboat, providing maximum
maneuverability. Not only do thrusters boost safety on the winding river, their efficient design also ensures lower
emissions, providing the same thrust as conventional shaftlines, but with a smaller engine size.
C H I N E S E C O N TA I N E R C H A M P I O N
With an annual throughput of 37 million standard
20-foot containers, Shanghai is the biggest
container port in the world. Incidentally, six of
the top ten largest container ports are in China.
Logistics 2000 20
Right place,
right time PA R CEL B OOM
···
In 2016, Germany’s courier, express and parcel (CEP)
SMART LOGISTICS
services delivered around 3.16 billion shipments;
that’s over 10 million per delivery day. Volumes have ·
·
·
B E H I N D E V E R Y T I M E LY D E L I V E R Y O F G O O D S L I E S A doubled since 2000. The German Association for Mail 7
S O P H I S T I C AT E D S U P P LY C H A I N . R E A D O N F O R S O M E I N T E R E S T I N G and Express Logistics (BIEK) estimates that annual ·
·
·
A N D C U R I O U S FA C T S A B O U T L O G I S T I C S . volumes will reach approximately 4.15 billion by 2021.
···
ASTRONOMICAL
PRICES 04-05-18
20°C
THE SMART PORT 302.5g
Supplying another celestial object is a very partic ular
kind of logistical challenge. First, it requires enough
fuel on board for the whole journey; and second,
In one of the terminals at the Port of Melbourne,
there’s no “roadside assistance” in space if something
automated cranes unload freight and move
2000 2016 2022 breaks down. As you’d expect, the prices are equally
containers without human intervention. Trucks
astronomical: sending a kilo of freight to the moon
are automatically identified and routed by the
currently costs in the region of $41,000.
logistics system. The system then issues loading
and unloading orders to the cranes and container
trucks. Cargo handling at the terminal is now six
times faster than under the old system.
L O S S E S W I T H A H E AV Y P R I C E
Around a third of all foodstuffs produced in the
world never actually reach consumers; they perish 04-05-18
during storage, transport or processing. Modern 20°C
technologies like condition monitoring are critical 302.5g
in reducing these losses, for example by promptly
flagging up breaks in the cold chain.
2000 2016 2022
2000 2016 2022
Time for a reboot
···
SMART LOGISTICS
·
·
·
9
·
·
·
···
F R E I G H T T R A N S P O R T B Y L A N D, S E A A N D A I R I S R A P I D LY I N C R E A S I N G
WORLDWIDE. MORE A ND MORE GOODS V EHICLES A RE CLOGGING
UP CIT Y STREE TS. THE LOGISTICS SYSTEM AS WE K NOW IT IS
T H R E AT E N I N G T O C O L L A P S E . B U T E X P E R T S A R E O P T I M I S T I C T H AT
B E T T E R I N T E G R AT I O N C O U L D B E T H E A N S W E R T O I M P R O V I N G
E F F I C I E N C Y S I G N I F I C A N T LY.
Text: Martin Westerhoff
T
he roar of a Boeing 747 chain (the “first mile”), the transit
cargo freighter briefly chain and the delivery chain (the
shattered the surreal “last mile”). The Department of
silence that had reigned Industrial Engineering and Inno-
over the ports of Los Angeles and vation Sciences at Eindhoven Uni-
Long Beach for days. The pilots versity of Technology has defined
were headed for Japan. Below the intricacy of this challenge in
them, tens of thousands of sea no uncertain terms. According
containers were stacking up on to the Dutch researchers, smart
the ground. And the plane’s logistics implies synchronizing four
cargo? Ton upon ton of frozen domains: a logistics system only
French fries. works efficiently if scheduling, ICT,
personnel and legislation are well
Seriously? Flying fries to Japan? aligned.
It may sound downright unbelievable,
but in December 2014 it became INTO THE UNK NOWN
a very costly reality for one US fast
food chain. At the time, the two This system can very easily get
West Coast ports were notoriously out of step, requiring rapid inter-
overburdened. The dockworkers vention. A case in point is the sce-
went on strike, leaving restaurant nario playing out since late May
managers to deal with the chaos 2018 in Hamburg, the first German
caused by a serious shortage of city to ban non-Euro 6 diesel vehi-
···
the one thing a hamburger is simply Logistics centers and warehouses have a long way to go in cles from two of its streets. “Bans
not complete without. It was not just terms of efficiency. Intelligent solutions are the answer. STREETS IN inevitably drive change. This
SMART LOGISTICS
the wrath of Japanese customers – shows just what a hot topic the
who were having their fries rationed – DIRE STRAITS last mile is,” warned Professor Uwe
·
·
·
that was at stake. Sales had already Clausen of the Fraunhofer Institute 11
·
dropped by 21 percent, and the strike According to an OECD survey, international road freight for Material Flow and Logistics ·
·
threatened a further slump as well as transportation grew by 96.12 percent between 2001 and (IML), speaking at the first courier,
considerable reputational damage for 2015. Across the 47 countries in the sample, haulage express and parcel services indus-
···
the fast-food chain with its 3.000-plus capacity rose from roughly 7 trillion ton-kilometers (tkm) try conference (CEP), which was
restaurants in Japan. Ultimately, over to over 14 trillion. A ton-kilometer is a unit of measurement staged last year by German pub-
1,000 tons of “flying fries” were sent obtained by multiplying the volume transported by the lisher EuroTransportMedia (ETM)
to the Land of the Rising Sun as distance traveled to deliver it. with ZF’s support.
a result of the strike.
IMPROVING
system and traffic as a whole can
only work efficiently if it’s suffi
2001 U N D E R T H E S P O T L I G H T:
THE L AST MILE
LOGISTICAL EFFICIENCY ciently well connected,” says
THROUGH BET TER Majid Sarvi, a professor of trans- A host of current logistics
CONNEC TIVIT Y port engineering at Melbourne developments and innovations
University. are focused on the last mile along
7.16 5 T R I L L I O N T K M
This anecdote shows what with upstream transfer from the
a tightly woven web global trade Boosting communication transit chain – so not just on ship-
really is, and the far-reaching between the means of transpor- ping, but also on depots and ware-
consequences of an interruption,
let alone a break, in the logistics
tation, the goods and the infra-
structure is among the core tasks
2015 houses. The reasons are twofold.
First, the rapidly accelerating pace
chain. According to forecasts by of a new discipline dubbed “smart of the mail-order business; and
the EU Commission, road, rail and logistics.” Smart logistics aims to second, the ongoing trend toward
maritime freight traffic is set to help meet the challenges posed global urbanization. The net result
increase by 25 percent between by a growing number of unknowns is spiraling demand for deliveries to
2010 and 2030. In light of this, and an increasingly complex trans- city-dwellers. According to United
logistics specialists are calling portation chain. The transportation Nations (UN) estimates, 55 per-
for urgent action. “The logistics chain is made up of the collection 14.050 TRILLION TKM cent of the world’s 7.62 billion
“A networked
inhabitants are urbanites today;
by 2050, that proportion will have
risen to 68 percent.
According to a UN report pub-
lished in May, the pace of urbaniza-
traffic system is
essential for more
tion is particularly fast in develop-
ing and emerging countries. The
latest figures from China’s National
efficient logistics.”
Office for Statistics reveal that
58.52 percent of the nation lives
in urban areas. Professor George
Q. Huang, chair of industrial and
MAJID SARVI
manufacturing systems engineering
Professor of transport engineering, Melbourne University
at Hong Kong University, outlines
the situation in the vast economic
area that takes in China, Hong
Kong and Taiwan: “E-commerce in
Greater China has exploded in the An everyday scenario in downtown areas across the globe: delivery vehicles obstructing traffic.
last few years, which means that
delivery logistics are increasingly
becoming a bottleneck.”
···
SMART LOGISTICS
Indeed, more and more ware- Logistics Parks.” These solutions TESTING TOMORROW ’S ·
·
houses on various scales are spring- are intended to synchronize the T R A F F I C T O D AY ·
ing up across mainland China to complex processes involved 13
·
accommodate online orders. “How- and to coordinate them more Melbourne University is running ·
·
ever, they’re still using old-school effectively. Huang also predicts trials in an inner city area of six
Long-haul transport too will benefit logistics systems that don’t stand up a paradigm shift in automation square kilometers to examine how
···
from networked logistics concepts. to present and future requirements,” with autonomous robotics, but its this kind of smart transportation
says Huang. For example, the time progress is currently hampered system might work. With the help
from receiving an incoming order to by the excessive amortization of over 40 partners including indus-
handing over the package to a logis- periods involved. trialists, policymakers and research-
tics company is too long. Space uti- ers, university engineers are devel-
lization in these logistics parks also Professor Majid Sarvi is equally oping and testing communication
leaves much to be desired. convinced that the logistics sector systems for vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V),
cannot solve the last-mile issue Vehicle-to-v ulnerable-road-users
P R O C E S S S Y N C H R O N I Z AT I O N alone. Rather, it’s about looking (V2P) and vehicle-to-infras tructure
AND IMPROVED at traffic as a whole. “Transporta- (V2I) use. Sensors record the flow
C O O R D I N AT I O N tion is a multimodal system made of motor vehicles, cyclists, pedes-
up of all means of transport, plus trians and public transportation in
“But one of the most critical the infrastructure,” says Sarvi. real time. This connected system
factors is a lack of synchronization Efficiency will only improve if we is called the Australian Integrated
between the three stages – goods can network the entire system so Multimodal EcoSystem (AIMES).
manufacturer to logistics park, as to coordinate and optimize it.
order compilation at the park, “The same applies to autonomous “A productive transport system is
and customer deliver y,” Huang cars: they only deliver advantages essential not just for urban quality of
laments. The institute he heads if they’re linked with a central data life, but also for an economy to com-
up is currently working on cloud- platform that monitors the whole pete globally,” Sarvi reiterates. He
based solutions for a project transport business – including sums it up perfectly, and that’s why
dubbed “iPark: Core Technolo- traffic lights and pedestrians,” smart logistics solutions are such a
gies of Intelligent Ecommerce he explains. high priority for tomorrow’s society.
The steam engine, invented by James Watt in
1769, and the development of the railroads took the
transport of goods to a whole new level. The turn
of the nineteenth century heralded the advent of
1830 the steam locomotive, and 1830 saw the inaugura-
tion of the first rail route for freight – the Liverpool
and Manchester Railway. From then on, the use
of freight cars has risen steadily, and benchmarks
such as the 1,435 millimeter standard gage became
the norm.
In 1907, with $100 of seed capital and two bicy-
cles, Seattle-based US entrepreneur James E. Casey
founded the world’s first parcel delivery service – the
American Messenger Company, which would later
did you know?
become the United Parcel Service (UPS). Today, UPS
1 90 7 has a fleet of 237 aircraft and 108,210 delivery cars,
vans, haulers and motorcycles dedicated to deliver-
ing packages. Over 8,100 of its vehicles are powered
Milestones
by alternative fuels and advanced technologies.
In the early 1950s, Toyota engineer Taiichi
Ohno was tasked with boosting the car company’s
···
productivity. While visiting a supermarket in the
in modern
US, he had a eureka moment. Today we call
SMART LOGISTICS
it the “ just-in-time” concept. Ohno realized that ·
·
people only purchased what they needed then ·
1 953 and there, and that in principle a supermarket 15
·
was simply a well-run warehouse. He saw that ·
·
logistics
if incoming goods matched outgoing goods as
accurately as possible, no long-term storage
···
space was required.
On April 26, 1956, Malcom McLean launched the
world’s first container ship – the Ideal X. Prior to this,
he had grown the McLean Trucking Company into the
second-largest freight forwarder in the US in a just
G L O B A L T R A D E A S W E K N O W I T T O D AY W O U L D B E U N T H I N K A B L E few short years. He then sold 75 percent of the com-
W I T H O U T C E R TA I N G R O U N D B R E A K I N G L O G I S T I C S I N V E N T I O N S . 1 95 6 pany and invested in ships. After a few modifications,
HERE ARE SOME OF THOSE SEMINAL MOMENTS. McLean equipped the Ideal X with 58 steel boxes that
were built in-house and tailor-made to fit the chassis
of his trucks. Containerization was born, and has
since become the world’s leading method of freight
transportation. Then came an invention that revolu-
tionized logistics: the barcode. At the time, the indus-
try paid it scant attention.
But many subsequent innovations, such as auto-
matic tracking or modern warehousing, would have
been inconceivable without it. Americans Norman
1 9 74 Joseph Woodland, George Laurer and Bernard Silver
are credited as its inventors. Incidentally, the very
first barcoded product, scanned on June 26, 1974
by a cashier in Ohio, was a 10-pack of gum.
···
SMART LOGISTICS
·
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·
17
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·
·
···
If necessary, the van drives on autonomously while the courier makes the delivery.
Satisfaction
included – right O
nline retail is so practical. you may find your package sitting
One click and your goods on your doorstep, where anyone
are on their way to your could simply walk away with it.
door. At least that’s the However, it’s not just those await-
theory. But in practice, the hassle ing delivery who are feeling hassled.
to your door
often starts as soon as you get your In downtown areas with a lack of
order confirmation: the delivery parking space, delivery trucks block-
deadline is etched in stone. The ing the road are a common sight.
delivery window you’re given forces According to a study by auditing
you to take the day off or work from and consulting firm PwC, goods
home. And far too often you still traffic is responsible for 80 percent
LOGISTICS SERVICE PROVIDERS DELIVER BILLIONS OF SHIPMENTS A YE AR. A NEW find a card in your mailbox telling of rush-hour jams in the city. The
Z F C O N C E P T V E H I C L E H E R A L D S A B E T T E R WAY T O M E E T T H E C H A L L E N G E S O F T H E you the package is waiting for study’s authors also found that one
F I N A L D E L I V E R Y S TA G E , K N O W N A S T H E “ L A S T M I L E .” collection at a package shop or has in three Germans is unhappy with
Text: Kathrin Wildemann been left with a neighbor. Equally, their package deliveries.You want to see the ZF Innovation Van
in action? Just scan the QR code
A VISION OF
THE FUTURE
and enjoy the video.
FOR COURIERS
3
Meanwhile, couriers are under TA K I N G T H E S T R A I N
extreme time pressure, often hav- OFF DRIVERS
ing to deal with 200 consignments
a day. On average, they have barely What’s more, customers can
three minutes to get to the next use an app to track where their
customer’s address, park, find the package is at any time as well as
right front door and hand over the to enter or change their preferred
package. And it’s even more irritat- delivery time and location at short
ing if the recipient is out and they notice. The system then calculates
have to try again later. ZF has the a new route in real time. Obviously,
technology to make life easier for it takes account of the current traf-
both parties: a driverless van with fic situation and predicts the deliv-
an intelligent delivery system that ery window reliably. All of this data
networks the package, the courier converges in the ZF cloud, which
2
···
and the recipient. in turn sends it to couriers via data
glasses, allowing them to prepare
SMART LOGISTICS
The ZF Innovation Van finds the en route for the next delivery while 1
·
·
most efficient delivery sequence the smart van does the driving. ·
at any given time, using a cloud- 19
·
based support system that stores The vehicle’s camera, radar and ·
·
relevant data for each consign- LIDAR systems map its surroundings
ment, such as delivery location and in the form of a data cluster, and 1 2 3
···
preferred timeslot. “The package the AI-capable ZF ProAI central
The van stops in a no-parking zone. The While the courier is on the way to the The data glasses relay the location to
practically finds its own way there,” computer converts this to instructions
courier hops out with the consignment. customer’s door, the van slips back into the courier, who gets back in where the
Georg Mihatsch, the project man- for the chassis, steering system and
the flow of traffic and looks for a suitable van is parked.
ager who oversaw development of drive actuators. As a result, the van
place to stop.
the ZF Innovation Van, explains. steers itself safely and independently
While the courier delivers the package, the van drives on autonomously
and finds itself a parking spot.
through even the most labyrinthine turn receive their goods right on
city traffic. But what about the time. It goes without saying that
blocked streets? We thought of as a technology company work-
that too. So if there’s no parking ing to shape the future of mobility,
space at the delivery address, the ZF always factors in environmen-
Innovation Van drops off the driver tal impact. Courtesy of a central
and looks for a suitable place to electric axle drive, the ZF Innova-
stop. This means that couriers tion Van is not only pollution-free,
can focus on their job – delivering but also quiet and therefore
packages to customers, who in resident-friendly.T
here was a time when truck
drivers were regarded as
the last of the adventurers.
Autonomous
But the freedom of the open
highway has long since given way to
a complex agenda. As they go about
their daily routine, today’s truckers
have to reconcile the requirements of
cost-cutting
their forwarding companies and its
customers, of legislators and of other
road users. It’s all about transporting
wares quickly, safely and as economi-
cally as possible.
T H E M O D E R N - D AY C O N V OY
Proper organization is a big help
here. The result is platooning, where
···
several trucks travel one behind the
SMART LOGISTICS
other with a minimal clearance of up
to eight meters in between trucks. ·
·
·
To prevent this from affecting road 21
safety, the vehicles are networked. ·
·
·
All but the first are automated. The
entire platoon brakes as soon as the
driver of the lead truck steps on the
···
brake. Each truck drives in the slip-
stream of the one in front, saving
up to 15 percent fuel compared to
each one traveling on its own. The
drivers of the trucks at the rear have
no need to keep their eyes glued to
the road. They just have to be able
to take the wheel when the systems
are switched off.
Z F I S U S I N G N E W C O N C E P T S T O D E M O N S T R AT E H O W T O M A K E L O G I S T I C S Martin Mayer, global key
S A F E R A N D M O R E C O S T- E F F E C T I V E , B O T H O N T H E R O A D A N D AT T H E D E P O T. account manager for commercial
T H E K E Y T O I T A L L I S A U T O N O M O U S D R I V I N G F E AT U R E S . vehicle ADAS at ZF, works with
development to advance the tech-
nology that makes platooning pos-
Text: Andreas Neemann
sible. “The system is based on our
sensors and control electronics,
which enable the truck's automated
driving capabilities,” he explains.the logistics chain.”
innovation vehicles optimize
Head of ADAS Project Center
“Our smart, networked
MARK MOHR
The systems-integration capable
ReAX truck steering system and
the TraXon automatic transmission
system receive steering and accel-
eration commands direct from the
control electronics.
The ZF Pro AI is the command
The ZF Innovation Truck: drivers could park this hybrid truck on arrival at the
box in charge of it all. This unit is
depot and take a break while automation takes care of the shunting.
so powerful that it evaluates the
enormous amounts of information
coming from the sensors in a
fraction of a second and converts
it to commands using intelligent ZF’s approach is to make depot management system has the
algorithms. ZF is currently involved processes easier, safer and more potential to make today’s standard
in a variety of platooning projects reliable through autonomous freight documentation obsolete.
with truck manufacturers. driving, which in turn would also
Take a look behind the gates make them more cost-effective. The ZF Innovation Truck can
···
NEW FREEDOMS – of the depot of the future – ZF is demonstrating this using a carry out lots of tasks without a
THE AUTONOMOUS DEPOT simply scan the QR code and coherent concept centering on ZF’s driver. It finds its own way to its
SMART LOGISTICS
watch the video. Innovation Truck, with our Terminal target position at the depot, puts ·
·
Once the truck drivers reach Yard Tractor as a shunter. “Our down its loaded exchangeable ·
their destination, there’s more work concept incorporates the logistics container and picks up another con- 23
·
to do: they have to hand over freight infrastructure of the forwarding tainer. Even experienced truckers ·
·
documents at the incoming goods agent. So we have a large part of need extensive practice and abso-
department, park and wait. Break the logistics chain in the frame,” lute concentration to inch the
···
time? Forget it. At any moment they says Mark Mohr, head of ZF’s vehicle backwards into position
may have to get back in the truck, commercial vehicle ADAS project under the container. More often
maneuver it to the loading ramp and center. than not, property gets damaged.
decouple the trailer for unloading. But the ZF Innovation Truck con-
It's an intricate maneuver that Smart tags can be attached to sistently carries out this maneuver
requires the utmost concentration. the cargo containers while they quickly, accurately and as safely
After a long haul, no breaks and are on the truck. These provide as possible. The shunting is done
yet more taxing maneuvers, drivers digital information, for example by another ZF innovation vehicle,
are often completely exhausted. on inventory, and also whether the Terminal Yard Tractor. It picks
Last year in Germany alone, there the cargo has been damaged en up the trailer and moves it reliably
were 16,500 notifiable commercial route by issues such as heavy from place to place. And it can
vehicle work accidents that did not vibrations or a break in the cold work all day, every day – even 24/7
occur on the road, with 28 of them Networked into the chain. Transmitting the smart if necessary – without any sign of
ending with fatalities. slipstream: platooned trucks. tag data directly to the materials fatigue.
Stress, fatigue and
distraction don’t
factor into it: the
Terminal Yard Tractor
shunts autonomously,
safely and precisely.A company N
o more panting and wheezing your way
uphill, and no more hot and sticky morning
commutes – pedelecs have arrived! In 2017,
almost one in four new bicycles sold in
Germany had an auxiliary electric motor. And thanks
full of energy
to ZF, sales are set to go on rising. The Group recently
became one of three partners in the newly founded
Sachs Micro Mobility Solutions GmbH. The kickoff for
this joint venture is the production launch of drive and
brake systems for pedelecs and e-bikes.
ELEC TRONICS FOR
P R I VAT E T R A N S P O R T
Hybrid passenger cars combine a combustion
engine with an electric motor. The hybrid module used
in ZF‘s 8-speed 8P automatic transmission supports
a host of hybrid applications that make it the ideal
solution. The mild version delivers up to 20 kW of extra The 8P hybrid drive combines combustion
electric power. That‘s not enough for purely electric power with electric driving.
driving, so we designed a plug-in hybrid version of the
8P that makes it feasible. Its electric module boasts a
peak output of 90 kW and maximum torque of 250 Nm.
This boost in speed makes zero-emission driving at
up to 120 km/h possible over a good 50 km range,
depending on the onboard battery. ZF‘s 7-speed dual ·
·
clutch transmission was designed with a focus on ·
combustion. But its 8-speed successor, co-developed 25
·
with Porsche as a 100 kW hybrid drive right from the ·
·
outset, is the opposite – a sure sign that electrically
assisted mobility is becoming the norm. A variant with-
out an electric drive module is based on it.
ZF is also an expert in axle-based passenger car
electrification. Our mSTARS (modular Semi-Trailing
Arm Rear Suspension) axle system is even suitable
as a replacement for conventional rear axles in
ZF HOLDS A UNIQUE POSITION existing vehicle platforms and is also equipped for
IN THE MOBILIT Y SEC TOR the ZF eVD (Electric Vehicle Drive) axle drive mod-
I N T H AT W E S U P P LY A N ule. With a peak output of 150 kW, this module lays An electric drive integrated into ZF’s versatile
I N C R E D I B LY D I V E R S E R A N G E O F the foundations for all-electric compact cars. Com- mSTARS rear axle system.
E L E C T R I C D R I V E S Y S T E M S T H AT bined with a front-axle ICE drive, our electric axle
POWER E V ERY THING FROM drive transforms vehicles into axle-hybrids and 4x4s.
B I C YC L E S T O T R U C K T R A I L E R S . In our recently unveiled concept vehicle equipped
Text: Achim Neuwirth
ZF cares about sustainable power generation too, with currently 55,000 wind turbine gearboxes worldwide.“The driveline
electrification can no
with eAMT (electrified Automated Manual Transmis- longer be contained.
sion) it also compensates for the momentary loss of
propulsion when the automated transmission shifts, To this end, we
providing continuous thrust.
develop and deliver
(ALMOST) UNLIMITED
E-MOBILIT Y core components
Our electric axle drive is also used as the sole drive TraXon, our automatic transmission for heavy trucks as well as entire
for minibuses. For example, it provides the acceleration and buses, is also suitable for commercial vehicle
Thousands of ZF AxTrax AVEs with electric
for the e.GO Mover people and cargo mover, which is hybridization. It‘s powerful enough to move a 40-ton systems for all
designed for automated driving. e.GO Moove GmbH truck at the depot solely with electric drive. Equally,
portal axles are already in operation on the
highways.
starts volume production of the vehicle in 2019. e.GO industrial trucks such as forklifts can be powered by ZF vehicle types.”
Moove is a joint venture between ZF and e.GO Mobile electric drives in the 4.5 to 10 kW performance range.
AG. For much larger low-floor buses, we supply the Take our Innovation Forklift, for example: ZF engi- JÖRG GROTENDORST
AxTrax AVE electric portal axle, formerly the ZF AVE neers taught it to drive not just electrically, but also Head of e-mobility
130. It features two 125 kW electric motors and a autonomously.
torque of 485 Nm. In articulated buses, it‘s even pos-
sible to install two AxTRAX AVEs. The drive is already In off-road machinery, ZF‘s eTRAC drives are the
operational in parts of the urban public transport basis for all-electric tractor concepts as well as for
fleets in Stuttgart, Mannheim and Bonn. unusual hybrid solutions: our electric Front Axle Drive ·
·
(eFAD) combines torsion-free 4x4 drive with low ·
CeTrax is yet another system from ZF allowing consumption, while the eTRAC-GPE 50 electric wheel 27
·
all-electric driving for heavy commercial vehicles. This head on our Innovation Tractor features an electric ·
·
electric central drive boasts an output of 300 kW and motor on both the left and right wheels of one of the
a torque of 4,400 Nm. Its little brother, CeTrax lite, trailer axles. The electric drive provides up to 80 kW
features a 150 kW, 380 Nm module for delivery vans when the tractor is on loose or muddy ground or when
and other light commercial vehicles weighing up to driving up or on steep inclines. This trailer traction
7.5 tons. CeTrax mid is a dual package with two 150 kW management system can often alleviate the need to
modules for medium-duty commercial vehicles up to buy a bigger tractor. A plough electrified by ZF offers
The ZF CeTrax – our electric central drive for 19 tons. similar advantages.
commercial vehicles.The dynamic L
ong plastic ridges are chassis components. Greger is used suspension. If a wheel rolls over
stuck to the asphalt like to passengers – many of them buy- an obstacle, it lifts, compressing
oversized Band-Aids. They ers or other research engineers a spring between the steering
are there for one reason from international automotive man- knuckle and the car body. Then the
and one reason only: to wreak as ufacturers – reacting this way on spring decompresses. The shock
sedan
much havoc as possible on any the proving ground. “Our sMOTION absorber’s job is to attenuate the
car that crosses them. Unper- fully active chassis system intro- resulting vibration as quickly as
turbed, the driver steers his blue duces new degrees of freedom to possible. Aside from direct impact,
compact MPV onto this special counteract vehicle body movement,” vehicles have to contend with
shake and vibration track. One of he says. “We can give each wheel motive forces, braking forces and
the passengers in the back clutches its own active countermovement centrifugal forces. These forces
the handle above the window as to prevent driving situations from associated with driving dynamics
the minivan crosses the bumps exciting the car body.” But along can prompt the car body to move in
at full speed. But from inside the with greater comfort, sMOTION sig- the direction of three spatial axes
car, they're barely noticeable. nificantly improves dynamics and (see diagram below). The chal-
Z F ’ S N E W A C T I V E D A M P I N G S Y S T E M , S M O T I O N , TA K E S “Impressive!” he gasps, releasing safety compared to current systems. lenge lies in the fact that different
D R I V I N G C O M F O R T, DY N A M I C S A N D S A F E T Y T O A W H O L E his grip. Used in conjunction with cameras, driving situations each demand a
N E W L E V E L . T H AT ’ S A H U G E P L U S W H E N I T C O M E S T O the chassis system can identify specific damping force. Minimizing
H I G H LY A U T O M AT E D D R I V I N G . AC TIV E EQUAL S SAFER AND the road condition, for example by body movement on curves requires
M O R E C O M F O R TA B L E anticipating bumps or potholes, and high damping force. Driving over
change its settings accordingly. slightly uneven surfaces only
Text: Martin Westerhoff Sven Greger, the man behind requires a little. And safe contact
the wheel, chuckles with satisfac- A damping system has to deal between the tires and the ground
tion. He's a ZF research engineer with a lot of situations. Uneven requires moderate damping force.
who works on the basic develop- tracks inevitably lead to direct “A conventional shock absorber
ment of our semi-active and active impact, which is cushioned by the can only ever reach a compromise ·
·
between sporty and comfortable, ·
albeit a good compromise,” says 29
·
Dr. Christoph Elbers, vice president ·
W HEN V EHIC L E DY N A MIC S T R IG GER ·
car chassis technology develop-
MOV EMEN T, SMO T ION K ICK S IN ment at ZF.
Vertical axis
Lifting and lowering is the up
and down movement caused
by uneven road surfaces.
See sMOTION on the proving
ground – scan the QR code to
watch the video.
Transverse axis
Pitching is when the vehicle Longitudinal axis
dips (when decelerating) or Rolling refers to the side tilt
rears up (when accelerating). caused by cornering.THE E VOLUTION OF THE
CDC DAMPING SYSTEM
“sMOTION can actively sMOTION
pull up or push down the No longer passive, but fully active – our shock absorber technology
ZF's semi-active Continuous
Damping Control (CDC) system
solved the problem of these con-
wheels.”
STANDARD TWIN-TUBE SHOCK ABSORBER
flicting objectives decades ago.
DR. CHRISTOPH ELBERS
Our semi-active damping system
Vice president car chassis technology development The piston rod of the twin-tube shock absorber is
went into volume production for
PISTON ROD attached to the car body, and its casing is attached
passenger cars in 1997. Using the
to the steering knuckle. In the casing is a second pipe
signals from two wheel and body
completely full of oil, which is the working chamber.
sensors for each spatial axis, plus
The piston moves inside this cylinder. The distance
additional information such as
CO M P E N S AT I N G between the inner pipe and the casing serves as a
vehicle speed, lateral acceleration
CHAMBER compensating chamber. This is not completely full
and steering angle stored in a con- on conditions. But in highly auto- P O W E R F U L A C T U AT O R S
of oil, since it has to be able to accommodate the oil
trol unit, the system continuously mated or autonomous vehicles, all FOR A SMOOTH RIDE
displaced from the working chamber when the piston
monitors driving conditions and the occupants become passengers. P I S T O N VA LV E
rod goes down. The bottom of the working chamber
calculates the optimum damping “And in that scenario, every vibra- sMOTION can actively adjust
WORKING and the piston contain valves that restrict the oil
force for each wheel. The shock tion, impact, roll or pitch simply movements occurring at a frequency
CHAMBER flow more on the rebound direction (when the piston
absorber has either one or two stops people from reading or of up to 5 Hertz – the equivalent of BOT TOM
comes up) than in the compression direction (when
electronically controlled solenoid working. This causes dispositions 0.2 seconds of vibration. In our test VA LV E
the piston goes down). When the piston rises, it sucks
valves that can change the oil flow known as motion sickness, making vehicle, these adjustments are made
oil out of the compensation chamber back into the
in milliseconds to adjust the damp- these activities impossible,” says by a 2.5 kW actuator on each wheel.
working chamber.
ing hardness. ZF chassis expert Dr. Elbers. “This effect is amplified It's an electric pump that increases
Dr. Elbers explains: “sMOTION by innovative seat arrangements the oil pressure either above or
takes things a step further. Using in which driver and passengers below the shock absorber piston C D C VA LV E S ·
·
the basic design of our tried- may no longer have a view in the and therefore actively moves it. For ·
and-tested CDC, we developed a direction of travel.” A remedy can high-frequency excitations – such as TWIN-TUBE SHOCK ABSORBER WITH CDC 31
·
damper that can actively pull up only be found in an active chassis. manhole covers, cross joints, rough ·
·
or push down the wheel.” sMOTION is a ZF solution for the asphalt or gravel – the sMOTION A shock absorber with Continuous Damping Control
future that is already improving shock absorber has a bypass that (CDC) uses either one or two electrically controlled
Until now, vehicle body exci- driving comfort today. Practically reverts to the CDC solenoid valves. solenoid valves. The CDC valves are used to vary the
tation was tolerated or even desir- undisturbed by the driving process, hydraulic resistance continuously. Low resistance
able to a certain degree so as to passengers can spend their travel Dr. Achim Thomä, technical produces soft damping; high resistance produces hard
give drivers perceptible feedback time working or relaxing. project manager for sMOTION, damping.
found himself and his team con-
fronted with an unusual challenge.
How could they convey the sys-
tem's effectiveness if it stopped
excitation so unobtrusively that
CDC TWIN-TUBE SHOCK ABSORBER WITH SMOTION
passengers could barely feel a
VA LV E S
sMOTION actively counteracts side tilt when cornering. The key thing? The solution was simple.
The sMOTION shock absorber has an electric pump
to autonomous driving is a beautifully undisturbed vehicle body. For demonstration purposes, Sven
that pumps the oil from the upper working chamber to
Greger now uses a tablet to control
the lower chamber or vice versa. This produces active
the shock absorbers on a stationary
force. A bypass upstream of the pump makes it possible
vehicle: individually, in pairs, or all
to activate two CDC valves to deal with frequencies
four at once. As he taps the screen,
above 5 Hertz.
the van lifts and lowers, pitches,
rolls and shakes like a rodeo horse,
at which point the engineers in the
seats have every reason to cling to
the handles despite the fact the car ELEC TRIC MOTOR
is not going anywhere! AND PUMP UNIT Fascinated by shock absorbers?
Simply scan this QR code for more information.CLEAN AIR AND EFFICIENCY GO
E L E C T R I F I E D, A U T O N O M O U S
COMMERCIAL VEHICLES HOLD
OUT THE PROMISE OF SAFE,
ZERO-EMISSION DRIVING. WITH
E XISTING STEERING SYSTEMS,
HOWE V ER, THIS IS MORE OF A
FA N TA S Y. S O W E ’ R E D E L I G H T E D
TO INTRODUCE ZF’S PROTOT YPE
FOR AN ELEC TROMECHANICAL
STEERING SYSTEM. A WORLD
F I R S T.
Text: Achim Neuwirth
A BIG WIN
FOR EFFICIENCY
But the environmental compat-
ibility of this steering system goes
beyond driving features alone; even
the technology itself is eco-friendly.
“Based on its first test drives in ·
·
trucks, ReAX EPS operates up to ·
15 percent more efficiently than our 33
·
T
most advanced electro-hydraulic ·
·
he electric drive purrs our Electrically Powered Steering adjusted. “In line with ZF’s guiding system to date,” says Schulz. What’s
quietly until the vehicle (EPS) makes the electrification and principle, See – Think – Act, ReAX more, it’s much lighter. This weight
comes to a standstill. The automation of commercial vehicles EPS is a critical system component reduction, as well as its compact
only sound that follows a whole lot easier. “ReAX EPS even for enabling trucks and buses to design, is due to dispensing with
is rubber on asphalt as the front has the potential to allow autono- act,” says Schulz, who goes on to the pump system, which means
wheels turn while parking. As if by mous vehicles to maneuver without explain in more detail. “Networked that it has no need for a fossil fuel
magic, the steering wheel turns all a mechanical link between the steer- with cutting-edge control electron- drive. Since a diesel engine always
by itself. This is a familiar scenario ing wheel and steered wheels,” says ics such as the ZF ProAI central has to be running for servo-assisted
to drivers of hybrid and electric Schulz. computer and with environmental electro- hydraulic steering systems,
passenger cars equipped with ZF sensors and other vehicle systems, they are unsuited for full hybrids and
technology. I N T E L L I G E N T LY N E T W O R K E D the intelligent steering system can purely electric drives. ReAX EPS, on
WITH THE FUTURE handle many tasks, ranging from the other hand, has two advantages
This, however, is different: the lateral control to SAE Level 4 auto- in this respect. First, its actuator
vehicle is a truck. ZF has transferred Steering a 40-ton truck without mated driving.” This means that is designed for an electric vehicle
its system expertise in passenger a direct mechanical link or a hydrau- a truck can steer itself on certain drive. Second, the steering system
car steering technology to commer- lic pump system? Unthinkable. Until sections of the highway or in load- itself requires so little installation
cial vehicles. The outcome – at the now. But ReAX EPS has an electric ing areas so the driver can work on space that it allows greater design
same time a world first – is ReAX motor with a maximum torque other activities or rest. ReAX EPS is freedom for the components elec-
EPS, an electromechanical steering of 70 Nm to transfer the required also perfect for platooning, where trifying the vehicle’s driveline. The
system for trucks and buses. “ReAX force to the steering mechanisms. trucks are electronically coupled first vehicles to benefit from ZF’s
EPS is the first all-electric steering ZF has combined this motor, its while driving, with minimal safety steering innovation will no doubt
system for commercial vehicles to control unit, the steering gear and distances between them thanks to be delivery trucks, since those with
Lower energy consumption, lower weight and less space: hit the market,” says Mitja Schulz, the sensor system in a highly com- the autopilot. In addition, it can be combustion engines are likely to
dispensing with the hydraulic pump makes ReAX EPS a highly head of ZF’s CV Steering Systems pact actuator unit. So the steering used in Park Assist or Lane Keeping soon be banned from certain city
efficient, flexible-use system. Business Unit. Currently a prototype, can be electronically controlled and Assist features. centers.NEW HEIGHTS
“By working with technology leaders
such as Baidu or automotive manu-
facturers like Chery, we gain deep
MA JOR CHINESE
insights into the market that is set
C O R P O R AT I O N S A R E
to determine the future of the global
W O R K I N G I N T E N S E LY
economy. China could soon be our
ON THE TECHNOLOGIES
most important market, and we’re
O F T O M O R R O W. O N E O F
well prepared for that,” says Qi. But state subsidies and regula-
THEIR KEY FOCUSES IS
tions are not the only factors behind
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
S
STRONG GROW TH IN the AI explosion. Given its large
(A I). ZF A ND CHINESE
lowly but surely, the taxi ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE population, China also has a huge
T E C H N O L O G Y C O M PA N Y
carves its way through volume of data at its disposal, pro-
BAIDU ARE WORK ING
the maze of cars, mopeds One particular technology is viding artificial intelligence with
T O G E T H E R T O A C C E L E R AT E
and buses in stop-and-go drawing the attention of developers the information it needs in order to
THE DE VELOPMENT OF
traffic. The taxi passes miles of in Shenzhen and all over China. It is advance. On top of this, the country
AUTONOMOUS DRIVING
factory buildings and giant ware- so important that it has even been draws on its concentrated knowl-
CONCEPTS.
houses, and it’s hard to believe that given a major role in the national edge of digitalization.
just 40 years ago the city of Shen- five-year plan: artificial intelligence
zhen was still a sleepy fishing vil- (AI). The Chinese government is “Artificial intelligence is intriguing
Text: Friederike Pater
lage just outside Hong Kong. Today, sure that AI will shape the future. to me as it can be used in so many ·
·
the cityscape is dominated by glass areas of life and can even improve it. ·
skyscrapers nosing up through a A study by market research com- Last but not least, it also offers solu- 35
·
layer of smog. The buildings bear pany Gartner backs this up. Gart- tions for the mobility of the future,” ·
·
the names of Chinese technol- ner analysts place the global busi- explains Dr. Xing Yuan, general man-
ogy giants: Huawei, Tencent, ZTE, ness value of artificial intelligence ager of series production and com-
Dingoo. in 2018 at $1.2 trillion, an increase mercialization at Baidu. “Our goal is
of 70 percent compared to 2017. to promote AI technology and make
D I G I TA L I Z AT I O N , According to forecasts, the figure it practical for everyday life.”
MADE IN SHENZHEN will rise to $3.9 trillion within the
next four years. RESE ARCH IN HOMEGROWN
No other city demonstrates A I L A B O R AT O R I E S
China’s digital evolution as well as B I G D ATA
Shenzhen. It has become the heart IS BOOSTING AI Baidu has been working in part-
of China’s nationwide digitalization nership with ZF since 2017. Along
overnight and is churning out tech- While it’s true that the US is the with Alibaba and Tencent, it forms
nological innovations at a breath- birthplace of artificial intelligence, part of the corporate triumvirate
taking pace. ZF is already a part China too has become an AI epicen- known as “BAT,” which represents
of this unique ecosystem. “Here in ter. By 2025, it will be closing in on a kind of digital parallel universe in
China, we march to the beat of a North America and within another China. Baidu, once a search engine
different drum; everything has to be five years will be market leader. developer and operator, has become
faster, higher, more advanced,” says A study by auditing and consulting the Chinese equivalent of Google
Qi Ping, head of development at ZF firm PwC estimates that China’s and Wikipedia. Today, it’s also the
China. “It is fascinating to see how GDP will rise to the equivalent of leading provider of high-resolution
quickly ideas can turn into series $7 trillion by 2030 purely on the maps. Online retailer Alibaba started
products.” The spirit of innovation, back of AI. As a comparison, for out as a kind of Chinese eBay and
the fast pace and an unquenchable North America PwC predicts a GDP has developed into an Amazon-like
thirst for progress makes Chinese increase of about 15 percent, to e-commerce giant in no time. Ten-
companies valuable partners. $3.7 trillion. cent dominates instant messagingservices with its WeChat platform Baidu’s high-resolution maps
“Here in and is also a leader in the gaming are making a major contribution to
sector. All three companies now autonomous driving. Modern sen-
China, we have their own “AI Labs” in which sor technology in special vehicles SPEAKER’S CORNER
they explore the universe of artificial records the global road networks and
march to intelligence. provides the data for high-definition
(HD) maps. However, updating the
the beat of China has become a pioneer in entire traffic infrastructure on a daily
Erik Figenbaum is a researcher at the Norwegian
Institute of Transport Economics (TØI) in Oslo,
alternative concepts of mobility. The basis is near-impossible. To remain
a different government’s next goal is to set the in the game, Baidu had to find the
an independent and privately owned research
institute based on a foundation.
global standard for the autonomous right partner. “Cooperation between
drum; cars of the future. It intends to net- a digitization company such as Baidu
work intelligent vehicles with a view and an established automotive sup-
everything
Electrified Nation
to reducing accidents and emissions plier like ZF allows the strengths of
by 30 percent and 20 percent each company to come to the fore, to
has to respectively by 2025. the customers’ benefit,” comments
Dr. Xing Yuan, and adds: “ZF is the
be faster, COMBINED STRENGTHS perfect partner for us, and its super-
F O R Y E A R S N O W, N O R WAY H A S B E E N G AT H E R I N G E X P E R I E N C E W I T H E L E C T R I C V E H I C L E S O N
A L A R G E S C A L E . H O W D O E S E - M O B I L I T Y W O R K I N T H I S N O R D I C C O U N T R Y, A N D H O W C A N
computer ZF ProAI is an excellent
higher, more “AI is a game changer, and autono- product.” ZF ProAI is an AI-capable
T H I S B E T R A N S F E R R E D T O O T H E R C O U N T R I E S? A N A S S E S S M E N T.
mous driving is the future of mobility. vehicle computer with a wide range
advanced.” And we want to be part of that from of configuration options. Norway is the global leader in electric vehicle adop- from charging loads. 94 percent of Norwegian BEV own-
the outset,” says Xing Yuan, explain- tion per capita. More than eight percent of the cars in the ers charge at home in their own parking space, and many
QI PING ing Baidu’s transformation into an ON A COMMON MISSION national fleet are rechargeable. Two-thirds are battery only drive locally, hence getting by with home charging.
Head of development, ZF China AI specialist. “Autonomous driving electric vehicles (BEVs); the rest are plug-in hybrids
presents the perfect challenge when Chinese car-sharing operator (PHEVs). Since the 1990s, Norway has been supporting On long-distance trips, users will of course need to
it comes to the use of artificial intel- Pand’s electric vehicles are already the BEV market through exemptions in purchase tax, road recharge – unlike diesel car owners, who can fill up for the
ligence. And we are focusing on use being tested with the ZF-Baidu tech- toll, parking charges, and by bus lane access. PHEVs have entire trip. It will be expensive to operate a fast-charging
of the technology in the automotive nology, and some Chinese cities will fewer incentives, but are more attractive than diesel vehi- infrastructure meeting all needs for long-distance driving
sector. Our goal is to commercialize soon allow autonomous vehicles to cles. Together, they facilitate a gradual shift to e-mobility. on peak travel days. On-street charging is another big
Al for volume production.” be tested on public roads. challenge inhibiting BEV ownership in densely populated
The substantial tax exemptions have made BEVs the cities. The municipality of Oslo has installed chargers
cheapest vehicles to buy, and this advantage becomes in parking lots and on streets, but struggles to keep up
directly visible in the sales price. Multi-vehicle families, with the demand. Other mobility services could act as
the main adopters, find BEVs economical to use and face supportive measures preserving mobility in crowded city
only few barriers. They park and recharge their BEV on centers. Battery life is not yet an issue in Norway – maybe,
their own land, and can use their other vehicle for driving because our summers are not that hot. Heat, however,
long distances. If other countries are able to reach the is the main factor in degrading battery life. When the
same group with suitable incentives, a market pull will be battery capacity decreases, BEVs will most likely continue
T HE T HR EE CHINE SE A I GI A N T S : DID YOU K NOW ? created, leading to a steep increase in BEV adoption. to be used by less-demanding users until the end of the
vehicle life. Then the batteries are handed in for recycling,
But Norway has other favorable conditions. Diesel is organized by the vehicle importers, and subsidized by a
expensive, and electricity is cheap with 98 percent based 300 -euro scrappage bonus.
on emission-free hydropower, so the emission benefit
Baidu Alibaba Tencent is huge. This benefit has also been realized at EU level, Norway has proven that BEVs can sell well in a mass
The Beijing-based group operates the Chinese internet conglomerate Alibaba With brand equity of $178 billion, as electricity production is part of the EU greenhouse market, and that the vehicles can easily be integrated
eponymous search engine Baidu. In Group is home to 12 brands. One of the Tencent currently ranks fourth among gas emission trading system, whereas transportation is into the overall vehicle fleet by multi-car households. The
the first quarter of 2018, the company most successful is the mobile payment the world’s most valuable brands. The not. Low superhighway speed limits in Norway reduce Norwegian e-mobility incentives have created a powerful
generated revenue of approximately service Alipay, run by group subsidiary group operates in a diverse range of energy consumption and preserve the range, whereas bottom-up market pull, whereas governments in coun-
$3.33 billion. Baidu is not afraid to Ant Financial, currently the most business areas from instant messaging cold winters reduce the range by 25 percent compared tries like Germany focus more on policies creating a top-
experiment, and is constantly expanding valuable fintech company in the world. to social media and online gaming. to summer driving. The Norwegian grid is robust enough down market push. The bonus to German BEV buyers
into new business areas – from meal Its main sources of sales are B2C and WeChat is the most popular messaging to handle charging, as we use electricity for space heat- introduced last year seems less effective than originally
delivery services, to online payment B2B e-commerce platforms Alibaba.com service in China, with a billion users. ing. Countries with less robust grids will need policies expected and may therefore need to be increased in order
providers, to tomorrow’s autonomous and AliExpress. that are capable of cushioning electricity peaks resulting to have a real impact on their purchasing behavior.
driving.You can also read
