Imagine a Lego-like system for giant trucks that lets companies switch between batteries and hydrogen fuel cells depending on how far they need to drive. It's like having a smartphone for trucking where the power source can be swapped to fit the trip. This ensures heavy loads can move across Europe without relying on diesel.
Heavy-duty transport is slow to decarbonize because zero-emission trucks often sacrifice load capacity or driving range. Current solutions struggle to match the Total Cost of Operation of diesel engines.
Two 40-ton trucks (one FCEV, one BEV) at TRL 8. Key components include a scalable fuel cell system, SiC-based inverters, and a CO2-refrigerant HVAC system.
If you are a fleet operator dealing with strict carbon limits on 40-ton routes — this project developed a Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle with a 750 km range that maintains 90% load capacity. This allows you to keep your cargo volume while eliminating diesel emissions.
If you are a distribution company dealing with urban emission zones — this project developed a Battery Electric Vehicle with a 400 km range. It provides a modular power system designed for regional mission profiles.
If you are a truck manufacturer dealing with high development costs for electric platforms — this project developed modular technology bricks like SiC-based inverters and e-axles. These components are designed to be scalable across different vehicle groups (4, 5, and 10).
The project targets a Total Cost of Operation (TCO) parity with 2020 diesel-based solutions by 2030.
The business case assumes a production volume of more than 10,000 vehicles per year.
Based on available project data, specific licensing terms are not mentioned, but the project delivers 'technology bricks' for modular vehicle architecture.
The demonstrators will reach TRL 8 by the end of 2026, with market entry expected in 2029.
The project includes a Human Vehicle Interface that features Vehicle-to-Grid communication and a fleet management system.
The consortium is heavily industry-driven, with 12 industrial partners representing 71% of the 17 total members. This strong commercial presence, combined with 4 research institutes and 1 university across 7 European countries, indicates a high focus on commercial viability and manufacturing readiness rather than pure academic research.
Contact AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH for technical specifications on modular e-axles.
Contact us to identify licensing opportunities for the EMPOWER modular technology bricks.
