e-troFit and Paul cooperate on electric buses

e-troFit GmbH and Paul Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH have formed a so-called Preferred Partnership. The cooperation agreement was signed in April 2021 by the two managing directors, Andreas Hager (e-troFit GmbH) and Walter Pötzinger (Paul Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH). The aim of the collaboration is to increasingly utilize synergies in the field of electrification of commercial vehicles and benefit from each other's value chains—whether in retrofitting vehicles or manufacturing new ones. For even more efficient processes, the two companies will closely interlock in the future in development, production, and subsequent sales of their solutions and products in the DACH region. 

"We have been working with Paul Nutzfahrzeuge for some time and appreciate their expertise and high-quality standards. We are all the more delighted to strategically establish the cooperation and closely interlink our business activities," explained Andreas Hager

Clearly Defined Roles

As a pioneer in the retrofitting of commercial vehicles, e-troFit has extensive experience in technology development and electric drive systems. The technical centerpiece is the Vehicle Control Unit (VCU), complex software for controlling the entire vehicle system while ensuring safety functions according to ISO 26262. Additionally, the company offers various customer services, from financing to project planning and implementation of charging and H₂ tank infrastructure solutions for fleet operators. 

As an experienced vehicle manufacturer, Paul Nutzfahrzeuge is responsible for the production and retrofitting of the vehicles and the associated integration and construction of the drive systems. The company is one of the European market leaders in special vehicle construction, performing chassis modifications, axle alterations, frame extensions, and special configurations on up to 1,000 commercial vehicles annually. 

Ambitious Development and Production Goals by 2030 

Already, two city buses from e-troFit GmbH have been produced by Paul Nutzfahrzeuge and used as demonstration vehicles. Two more vehicles are currently in production. By the end of 2021, up to 50 commercial vehicles, both city buses and trucks (up to 23 tons), are to be electrified jointly.

For the year 2022, the cooperation plans to electrify up to 300 commercial vehicles. Additionally, the partners have agreed on the joint development and production of new vehicles as well as retrofits to fuel cell drives. By 2030, significantly more than 5,000 city buses and trucks are to be jointly electrified and brought to market.