T&BB interviewed senior management at Hexagon Purus and discussed the company’s market positioning as it looks to capitalise on the growing demand for clean transportation technologies needed to drive zero-emission transportation in the Commercial Vehicle (CV) industry.

The company is aiming to partner with international CV OEMs in the light, medium and heavy-duty segments by presenting its hydrogen and natural gas products for the transportation sector.

The company highlighted the AddVolt Powerpack, an energy system that enables the electrification of refrigerated transport vehicles which can eliminate diesel use and reducing noise, making it ideal for operating in low-emission zones.

Ovarith Troeung of CEO HFC retrofit company cautioned that the company is still waiting for the “market to mature” before ramping up production. Evidently, it has learnt from the litany of startup vehicle companies that have gone bust over the last few years.

T&BB caught up with the CEO and co-founder Dr James Widmer at the show. Widmer claims that the electric motor offers all the performance and efficiency benefits of a conventional permanent magnet motor without their considerable environmental drawbacks.

At IAA Transportation 2024, held between 17-22 September in Hanover, Germany, the vehicle manufacturers said in unison to delegates: “We are ready for the transition to electric vehicles. Now we are waiting for the market to follow.” Maxion Wheels had a similar message for its OEM customers: “We are ready. Everything is developed. We know how to do it.”At its stand, the company showcased a range of different wheels, from sustainable steel to light electric urban to forged aluminium – this last type being shown to the public for the very first time since Maxion announced its intention to enter this market segment at IAA Transportation 2022. But Maxion’s execs were keen to stress that the company’s moves to support electric vehicles and sustainability are not disruptive; rather, these initiatives are in keeping with a longstanding “culture of innovation” at Maxion.

The company said it has focused on using the most advanced technologies for hydrogen fuel cells, battery electric vehicles, and alternative fuel-powered engines.

All new SmarTrailer’s will be equipped with TC Trailer Gateway, enabling real-time vehicle management. This systems monitors driver behaviour, vehicle location and gathers data (and transmits the data) from various trailer components such as temperature sensors, brake systems and tyre pressure.

During a press conference at the show, Güriş said that Parsan is now working with AVL to adapt the e-axle for series production.

At IAA Transportation 2024 last month, I experienced firsthand the magnetic effect of the “Tesla phenomenon”. Towards the end of a series of keynote speeches delivered by some of the industry’s most important executives, Dan Priestley, who heads the development of Tesla’s heavy electric ‘Semi’ truck, took to the stage to provide an update on the company’s plans for the commercial vehicle segment. I had a place towards the front, having sat through the preceding talks that afternoon, which were reasonably well attended; however, looking behind just before Priestley’s entry to the stage, I saw a new crowd of attendees filling out the entire space.

Part of its ‘Eckstreme’ series of twin-deckers, the new trailer sits on three axles and weighs about 450 kilograms less than previous iterations in the range.

The ‘HE 19’ is the latest model in Carrier Transicold’s ‘Vector’ series of TRUs and is claimed to be the company’s most sustainable product yet.