The future is in clean and intelligent transport

The future is in clean

and intelligent transport

The automotive industry finds itself at a historic crossroad. Fossil fuel combustion is being replaced by electric power. Cars are quickly becoming driving information systems and smart mobility is emerging as a thriving business model. As a result, the automotive market is undergoing major transformation, which also applies to manufacturers of vehicles for transporting goods and people. Leading companies need to reinvent themselves, and pioneering newcomers find opportunities everywhere. Sioux Technologies operates in the eye of this storm, supporting all corporate parties with the required innovative strength.

Anyone who characterizes the automotive industry as “outdated” is misjudging the sector severely. Vehicles nowadays are cutting-edge, high-tech machines, containing refined mechanics, electronics and software that together maximize a multitude of aspects, such as safety, driving experience and fuel economy. But today’s cars are not those of the future.

Futureproof innovation New developmental pathways

‘Developments are moving lightning-fast,’ explains Erik van Rijswijk, COO of Sioux Technologies. ‘The automotive industry is undergoing radical changes, not only in terms of the transition to zero emission, but also because vehicles are becoming cyber-physical systems – smart, digital, multifunctional, autonomous and connected. At the same time, they increasingly serve smart mobility concepts – such as in the field of multimodality and last-mile distribution – that focus on a network of sustainable, efficient transport from A to B. All of this requires fundamental futureproof innovations at a systems level. In particular the addition and integration of software-based intelligence, and therefore also mathware, makes a tremendous difference. And this is exactly the core of the added value we offer developers and manufacturers of buses, trucks and special vehicles.’ VDL Enabling Transport Solutions (VDL ETS) is one of the gems of the Dutch automotive sector. The company focuses on researching, engineering, prototyping and testing new technologies in fields such as battery and hydrogen electric mobility, charging infrastructure and energy storage. VDL managing director Menno Kleingeld agrees with Van Rijswijk’s analysis: ‘People have become convinced that the future is in clean and intelligent transport. This is a threat to many traditional models. Choosing new developmental pathways is not easy, especially if you have committed yourself to large-scale investments in the past, for instance in the production of your own combustion engines and the associated competences. On the other hand, this drive also creates opportunities for innovators such as VDL. We are a flexible company: geared towards innovation, purchasing the best components and rapid manu- facturing-to-market. We develop our technology around five platforms: coaches, public transport buses, vans, trucks and automated guided vehicles (AGVs). These platforms, comprising both hardware and software, together determine the performance of the vehicles. From an efficiency and quality assurance perspective, the modules are largely interchangeable.’

Strengths and challenges

People from Sioux are constantly working for VDL ETS, either in-house at the VDL facility in Valkenswaard or from the Sioux Development Centre in Eindhoven. Their activities include working on the control software and HMI architecture of the electric VDL City Bus & Coach product lines and e-trucks. They are also being deployed for projects such as the localization and integration of new components. Van Rijswijk: ‘These duties require special expertise. You are using generic components for process-critical applications with state-of-the-art engineering. A success realization requires domainspecific knowledge of procedures, technical requirements, interaction within systems and a passion for vehicles, but also competences in the field of agile working, data and computerization …’ ‘And it requires a mutual understanding,’ emphasizes Kleingeld. ‘Sioux has both high-quality generic software and automotive specialists. That is a great strength. But nothing will succeed without the right connection. VDL does business with an open mind and from a human perspective. I can also see this at Sioux and in its people. They have the same interests and the same kind of energy. They are part of our team and can keep up on every level. This allows us to jointly bring innovation to the automotive sector.’

For more information, visit WWW.SIOUX.EU

Towards

Zero Emissions

In the coming decades, the automotive industry faces enormous challenges to dramatically reduce CO2 emissions from vehicles and improve local air quality. Changes in human behavior will have to go hand in hand with a combination of logistical, traffic and vehicle measures with sustainable fuels and energy carriers. No innovation or solution can realize the required massive reduction levels on its own.

Tackling the challenges

Some powertrain solutions, besides optimization of the powertrains themselves, are (renewable) electricity, hydrogen and synthetic fuels. Dutch truck and bus manufacturers are well-equipped to tackle the environmental challenges. Besides bringing electric (DAF CF Electric) and hybrid (DAF CF Hybrid) trucks to the market, DAF Trucks is continuously upgrading the efficiency of the diesel powertrain and making it cleaner. In cases where other technological solutions do not fit as easily, the development of E-fuels for use in highly efficient internal combustion engines is very promising, as well as hydrogen as a zero emission solution. According to DAF, the use of hydrogen is certainly a long-term option for powering trucks.

There are two different options:

• fuel cell that uses hydrogen to generate electricity, which powers the electric motor • Or hydrogen that serves directly as fuel for the combustion engine.

In both cases, a CO2 reduction of 100% is possible if green hydrogen is employed. DAF’s parent company PACCAR – together with Toyota and Shell – is already gaining experience with hydrogen fuel cells. The first hydrogen trucks are now being tested in the port of Los Angeles.

Ultra-innovative

Although the Netherlands is traditionally known for the quality of its heavy-duty vehicles, there is one passenger car manufacturer that is ultra-innovative. Lightyear offers an extremely energy- efficient long-range electric vehicle fitted with a solar-panel roof. It is designed for independence. With four in-wheel motors, the highest specific energy-pack, the most aerodynamic production design and the most efficient automotive solar panels, Lightyear’s designs and engineering are unique in the world.

Cross-sectoral cooperation

The Dutch Green & Smart Transport Delta innovation program, which focuses on heavy-duty vehicles, supports the idea that there is not a single solution that is going to meet our collective climate goals on its own. For more in-depth information about how the Dutch automotive industry is tackling societal challenges, please see the ‘Roadmap Automotive 2020-2030’ at www.hollandhightech.nl. According to this roadmap, cross-sectoral cooperation is very important to meet the climate and air quality goals. An example is the highly developed charging network in the Netherlands. Examples of companies in this sector are eViolin, EVBox, Greenflux, Chargepoint and New Motion. To keep their leading positions in the field, these companies must make a permanent effort and respond quickly to what is happening in our environment. Innovations must pay off quickly in business and education. This requires smart organization of innovation, work and learning.

Buses

The switch to zero-emission tank-towheel transport is already a fact for city and intercity buses. By using these buses on fixed routes and thanks in part due to tendering requirements, buses are ahead of trucks in terms of powertrain electrification. Both original Dutch manufacturers, VDL and Ebusco, are very active in the field of electric buses.

VDL Enabling Transport Solutions

(VDL ETS), located in Valkenswaard, focuses on researching, developing, prototyping and testing new possibilities or concepts for, in particular, the transport-related activities of VDL companies. The aim is to develop environmentally-friendly, innovative hardware and software solutions, including in the field of electric transport (E-mobility), battery technology, charging infrastructure, energy storage, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), guidance and navigation technology.

EBUSCO manufactures fully electric buses and is based in Deurne. The company develops, produces and sells electric city and intercity buses for the European market. The Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of an electric bus is lower than that of a diesel bus of the same size. Because the range of the bus is more than 350 kilometers, there is no need for bus charging infrastructures in cities. Overnight charging at a depot suffices.

We mentioned three very successful OEMs based in the Netherlands, but the Dutch automotive industry is still mainly a supplier with manufacturing customers all over the world. These Dutch businesses do face the same challenges as OEMs, namely helping customers in their pursuit of zero emissions, sometimes dictated by local legislation. High product quality and supply reliability will of course remain crucial qualities. A few examples: Bakker Mwagnetics from Eindhoven mainly builds rotors and sensor rings with permanent magnets for electrical drives for the e-mobility market. Permanent magnets are increasingly central to innovative technologies. The assemblies are completely engineered in-house and custom-made for the customer using their own magnets. Permanent magnet solutions are being used a lot in traction motors these days. The major advantage is that they allow one to achieve high torques at low revs.

UMS (Urban Mobility Systems) is a specialist in the electrification of all sorts of vehicles. Core business examples are electrification of (heavy) vehicles on a project basis (R&D), hydrogen solutions, developing BEVs for passenger and freight transport and off-grid energy storage & grid-balancing solutions, integration of energy storage.

StreetPlug builds underground charging points for electric cars. It is a flexible alternative to the charging station, applicable at any location where the aim is to preserve the original street view. All vital electrical parts are incorporated into the electrical compartment, which is built in a water-resistant IP65 housing. Vialle Autogas Systems, based in Eindhoven, develops and manufactures alternative fuel systems for cars and other means of transport, which are used all over the world in LPG, diesel blend, natural gas and DME technologies. With much lower CO2 emissions as well as significantly reduced NOx, soot and dust particles, LPG is considered the cleanest fossil fuel compared to petrol and diesel. According to Vialle, driving on LPG reduces CO2 by 21%, and particulate matter by 95% compared to petrol, and 74% less NOx compared to diesel.

Prins Alternative Fuel Systems, also from Eindhoven, builds alternative fuel systems & components for cars, buses, trucks, industrial and maritime applications for LPG, CNG or LNG. Where the focus used to be on universal systems, it is now increasingly on integration by car make and type. Moreover, the number of available LPG and CNG systems for cars with a direct injection fuel system is growing rapidly. It is expected that there will still be around 8 million cars in the Netherlands using fossil fuels by 2030, the vast majority of which run on petrol, meaning that conversion to LPG can yield considerable CO2 savings.