Paul Group informs Minister of Transport about e-trucks: Support is necessary!
The Bavarian Minister of Transport, Christian Bernreiter (CSU), visited the Paul Group in Vilshofen to get a firsthand look at sustainable and feasible solutions for climate-neutral drives in the transport and logistics industry. Bernreiter also aims to positively influence road traffic regulations in cooperation with the federal government and other states. Apart from a brief tour of the factory premises and a presentation of the hydrogen truck PH2P, a discussion between the Minister and the Paul management was on the agenda. Two topics were particularly in focus: the challenges for ramping up hydrogen truck production concerning their overall vehicle length and the lack of regulations for weight compensation for battery-electric trucks with four axles. Bernreiter had recently expressed strong skepticism about e-mobility, stating that "not all drivers can be forced into electric cars" and warning about "Cuban conditions in Bavaria." The EU had ignored this "for ideological reasons" with its decision to phase out combustion engines by 2035. After visiting research at the Technical University of Munich during the EV Roadshow, this visit was another opportunity for the Minister to learn about the expertise of Bavarian companies and the potential of electric drives. One of the pioneers in the Free State is the Vilshofen-based provider Paul.
With PH2P, they have developed the first series-ready hydrogen fuel cell truck, and with the Battery Electric Arocs, the first battery-electric mixer, which not only drives climate-neutrally but also enables quiet and clean concrete mixing, explained Paul's CEO Bernhard Wasner. Both vehicles are an extraordinary development success, and they receive new inquiries every day.
"What is missing are practice-relevant regulations at the federal level, which would allow trucks for the construction industry as well as transport and logistics to be brought quickly, safely, and efficiently onto the road. Reliable and predictable funding frameworks are now urgently needed, otherwise, the climate turnaround won't happen – and we will once again have 'over-bureaucratized' a topic," Wasner openly criticized.
Regarding the challenges for hydrogen trucks, the Paul Group, representing the entire commercial vehicle manufacturing and conversion specialist industry, calls for ways to allow the Federal Ministry of Transport to extend the current maximum total length for tractor units by 90 centimeters. This additional vehicle length is urgently needed because, due to construction, hydrogen tanks can be optimally installed horizontally behind the driver's cab. Integration under the chassis is not possible due to the dimensions of the hydrogen tanks. Overall vehicle length is a crucial decision factor for customers in transport logistics: they need comparable loading areas to conventional diesel-powered vehicles, the manufacturer further explains.
Four axles are essential for battery operation
The second issue concerns battery-electric trucks, such as the Battery Electric Arocs developed by Vilshofen, which was presented to the international construction industry at the Munich trade fair bauma 22 and is already in high demand. For the 4-axle construction vehicle, the permissible total weight for diesel vehicles is 32 tons. However, the additional weight resulting from the integration of 6 to 7 battery units is currently not allowed to be compensated under the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO). Weight compensation is urgently needed to avoid competitive disadvantages due to the installation of emission-free technology, the manufacturer appealed. A corresponding compensation of up to 2 tons is currently only available up to 3-axle trucks. The climate-neutral, quiet, and adequately ranged electric drive of the vehicles should also be prioritized for the 4-axle vehicle and made practically possible.
"Fuel cell and battery drives are forward-looking opportunities to drive trucks in an environmentally friendly way. Currently, the unrestricted use of these vehicles is prevented by road traffic regulations. Bavaria will advocate at the federal and state levels to relax the relevant regulations to promote alternative drives," explained Bavaria's Minister of Transport Christian Bernreiter, who had recently expressed skepticism about the prospects of electromobility in passenger cars.
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