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IAA Mobility 2021: DLR presents fuel-cell commuter vehicle and modular shuttle

The institute presented the two emission-free vehicle prototypes U-Shift and SLRV: a modular transport concept for people and goods and an ultralight fuel-cell commuter vehicle. The aim is to provide an idea and bring together partners from Germany. VM has already taken a test drive.

Live and in color: The SLRV Fuel-Cell-Penderl Concept is still a handcrafted one-off. But that could change if a partner is found for the DLR. | Photo: J. Reichel
Live and in color: The SLRV Fuel-Cell-Penderl Concept is still a handcrafted one-off. But that could change if a partner is found for the DLR. | Photo: J. Reichel
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Johannes Reichel

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) aimed to show at IAA Mobility 2021 in Munich how climate protection and mobility in road traffic can be reconciled. The focus is on two futuristic prototypes: the Safe Light Regional Vehicle (SLRV) and the U-Shift. The U-Shift consists of a U-shaped drive unit and capsules for transporting people and goods. The SLRV is an extremely light and very safe commuter vehicle with a sandwich body and fuel cell drive.

"Mobility is an integral part of our global world and will remain so. We want to stay mobile in the future – avoiding emissions, saving resources, and being even safer and more comfortable," said Prof. Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla, Chairwoman of the DLR.

As one of the largest traffic research institutions in Europe, the DLR is actively shaping this transformation process by keeping people's needs in mind and considering both the mobility and energy systems, continued the DLR chief. Together with partners from science and industry, they aim to develop solutions that are smart and interconnected. Two concrete examples were showcased at IAA Mobility.

Emissions-free Commuter Vehicle SLRV: Extra lightweight and particularly safe

This includes the SLRV as a special small vehicle with an alternative drive concept. The sporty hydrogen vehicle is supposed to be very lightweight and at the same time safe. This is ensured by a body weighing only around 90 kilograms in a metallic sandwich construction. The material used for the three-meter-long but impressive two-meter-wide vehicle consists of a metallic outer layer and a plastic foam interior. The front and rear of the SLRV are made of sandwich panels and serve as crumple zones according to the L7e standard. The passenger cell consists of a tub with a superimposed ring structure. The lightweight construction approach, combined with a highly efficient 8 kW fuel cell from Canadian specialist Hydrogenics, which could also represent a single unit, enables resource-saving and safe mobility, among other things, for commuting routes, promotes DLR. The range is around 400 kilometers, and a 1.6-kilo H2 tank made of composite material is installed in the prototype, space-saving in the central tunnel. An intermediate storage is provided by a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 25 kWh. The top speed is supposed to be 120 kilometers per hour, but the single unit has so far reached 73 km/h. Two 25 kW electric axle motors provide the appropriate performance for the sleek design.

Vehicle Concept U-Shift: Modularization on-the-road

As a flexibly usable vehicle, the ready-to-drive prototype of the U-Shift is intended to show the way. The concept is seen as both an on-demand shuttle, a variable distribution center for packages, or a mobile retail store. Two components are combined: The U-shaped drive unit, the so-called driveboard, contains all the technical components and systems. It is supposed to operate autonomously, electrically, quietly, and ensure maximum cost-effectiveness around the clock. The first driveboard currently still operates by remote control and is being automated in the current project. It is combined with capsule-shaped structures for transporting people and goods.

When first sitting inside, the interior mainly gives the impression that it could immediately go into regular operation. The shuttle unit offers enormous space on a small exterior area, you sit elevated, and below remains a barrier-free platform for strollers, wheelchairs, or even for transporting cargo in combined use. However, another interior layout would also be conceivable, as a DLR engineer explains. It is not yet at the point where you can start driving as suggested by the timetable display on the screen, but DLR sees its role as acting as a kind of catalyst and integrator for related ideas and components from Germany, according to the statement on-site. The question of whether there would be enough customers for an interchangeable structure that handles both goods and passenger transport is also to be clarified.

The prototype is intended to give DLR researchers and the project partners involved the opportunity to gain experience with this vehicle concept and its contribution to more sustainable mobility, while new products, services, and business models could emerge, as DLR advertises. Additionally, they want to engage in dialogue with citizens. Visitors to the exhibition had the opportunity to get to know these two vehicles at the DLR stand (OP440) within the framework of the Open Space at Odeonsplatz in downtown Munich.

Automated Driving and Mobility Measurement via Smartphone

At the IAA Summit in the exhibition halls, DLR (Hall A2, Stand C50) also provides insights into how research and industry are jointly testing automated and connected driving at the Lower Saxony test field. Additionally, it introduces DLR MovingLab, demonstrating how mobility behavior can be easily measured using a smartphone.

Translated automatically from German.
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