A study on the most promising alternative drive technologies in the commercial vehicle sector using the example of MAN Truck & Bus AG

Abstract

To stop climate change and meet the Paris emission targets, there must be a mobility shift next to the energy revolution. The commercial vehicle sector, which is still mostly powered by diesel combustion engines, will play a decisive role in this evolution. Different drive technologies and their potential in the various segments of commercial vehicles are considered, as can be seen at the IAA Commercial Vehicles 2018. In the area of combustion engines the alternative energy carriers biofuel, gas or e-fuel are taken into account. In the case of electrified drives, the electricity can be provided by a battery, a fuel cell or the overhead line. The fundamental question treated in this paper is: What is the most promissing drive technology for commercial vehicles in the future? To answer this question, the analysis in this paper focuses on MAN Truck & Bus AG as one of the major truck OEMs in Europe. The relevant stakeholders affected by this mobility change, which are identified and involved in the process of elaboration, are the customer, the state, the OEM and the energy provider. Workshops with these stakeholders show that TCO, legislation, energy and infrastructure are the most relevant influencing factors. Interviews provide next to other methods insights into the key factors and create a basis for the future technology prediction. As a result of this study it turns out that battery electrified drive and fuel cell drive have a immense technology attractivity in the commercial vehicle sector in the medium to long term and have to be driven forward together with the energy revolution.