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Configurable and Adaptable Trucks and Trailers for Optimal Transport Efficiency

Objective

Today trucks are designed and optimised towards a limited variance set of usage and for maximum payload. Future trucks-trailers are easily adaptable for each freight, load and mission. And, in the operation phase, the vehicle combination automatically adjusts itself to the actual driving environment (i.e. traffic situation, topology, and payload). This option has large potential to contribute to the achievement of the EC’s targets for reducing the consumption of fossil energy resources, increasing transport - and fuel efficiency.

The objective of the project is to develop and demonstrate innovative and energy efficient trucks and load carriers for long distance transport assignments with an improved load efficiency leading to an overall 25% less energy consumption on a t.km basis and a lower impact on the road infrastructure.

This is achieved by the CONCEPT proposed that is based upon the following key innovations:
1. A distributed, modular, and mission adaptable Hybrid-on-Demand (HoD) driveline concept that is applicable to both, existing and future trucks,
2. A pre-standard electric Hybrid-on-Demand Framework that supports a broad market introduction of hybrid commercial vehicles and provides planning certainty for future RTD activities.
3. Mission-based configurable aerodynamic overall truck-trailer design (toolbox);
4. Loading efficiency optimised trailer interior design (toolbox);

TransFormers focus on achieving these key innovations within the existing European legal and regulatory framework in terms of dimensions, weight and loads.

The main results of the project will be:
- Key performance indicators and use cases
- Holistic simulation study results for the design of the Hybrid on demand driveline concepts and use for optimal component selection
- HoD driveline concept defined, implemented and demonstrated in truck (semi) trailers
- Tool box with a set of aerodynamic solutions and trailer concepts for optimised transport efficiency (loading)

Call for proposal

FP7-SST-2013-RTD-1
See other projects for this call

Coordinator

VOLVO TECHNOLOGY AB
Address
Gotaverksgatan 10
405 08 Goteborg
Sweden

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Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Administrative Contact
Paul Adams (Mr.)
EU contribution
€ 714 393,55

Participants (13)

ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
Germany
EU contribution
€ 226 943
Address
Robert-bosch-platz 1
70839 Gerlingen-schillerhoehe

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Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Administrative Contact
Sandra Unland (Mrs.)
DAF TRUCKS NV
Netherlands
EU contribution
€ 121 687,50
Address
Hugo Van Der Goeslaan 1
5643 TW Eindhoven

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Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Administrative Contact
Jack Martens (Mr.)
MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG

Participation ended

Germany
EU contribution
€ 35 762,50
Address
Mercedesstrasse 120
70372 Stuttgart
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Administrative Contact
Katharina Deckert (Mrs.)
FORUM DES LABORATOIRES NATIONAUX EUROPEENS DE RECHERCHE ROUTIERE FEHRLAISBL
Belgium
EU contribution
€ 144 509
Address
Boulevard De La Woluwe 42
1200 Bruxelles

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Activity type
Research Organisations
Administrative Contact
Laurie Ferrier (Ms.)
FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV
Germany
EU contribution
€ 1 336 098,50
Address
Hansastrasse 27c
80686 Munchen

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Activity type
Research Organisations
Administrative Contact
Maximilian Steiert (Mr.)
INSTITUT FRANCAIS DES SCIENCES ET TECHNOLOGIES DES TRANSPORTS, DE L'AMENAGEMENT ET DES RESEAUX
France
EU contribution
€ 316 278
Address
Boulevard Isaac Newton 14 Cite Descartes 14-20
77447 Marne La Vallee Cedex 2

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Activity type
Research Organisations
Administrative Contact
Severine Somma (Mrs.)
IRU PROJECTS ASBL
Belgium
EU contribution
€ 81 000,20
Address
Avenue De Cortenbergh 71
1000 Bruxelles

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Activity type
Other
Administrative Contact
Zeljko Jeftic (Mr.)
PROCTER & GAMBLE SERVICES COMPANY NV
Belgium
EU contribution
€ 97 345
Address
Temselaan 100
1853 Strombeek Bever

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Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Administrative Contact
Petra Bogaerts (Mrs.)
SCHMITZ CARGOBULL AG
Germany
EU contribution
€ 499 493
Address
Bahnhofstrasse 22
48612 Horstmar

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Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Administrative Contact
Bernd Meurer (Dr.)
NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNO
Netherlands
EU contribution
€ 532 684,75
Address
Anna Van Buerenplein 1
2595 DA Den Haag

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Activity type
Research Organisations
Administrative Contact
Rob Schut (Mr.)
UNIRESEARCH BV
Netherlands
EU contribution
€ 281 120
Address
Delftechpark 37 J
2628 XJ Delft

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Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Administrative Contact
Eric Feenstra (Mr.)
VAN ECK BEESD BV
Netherlands
EU contribution
€ 367 900
Address
Oude Waag 24
4153 BV Beesd

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Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Administrative Contact
Richard Van Diemen (Mr.)
VIRTUAL VEHICLE RESEARCH GMBH
Austria
EU contribution
€ 444 100
Address
Inffeldgasse 21 A
8010 Graz

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Activity type
Research Organisations
Administrative Contact
Daniel Watzenig (Dr.)