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Alternative drive systems in the spotlight
The commercial vehicle trade fair clearly highlighted the direction in which the industry is heading: alternative drive systems dominated the scene and were presented as the key to transformation. In addition to their classic models, almost all manufacturers also displayed battery-electric vehicles at their stands.
There was particular interest in the future of hydrogen propulsion. In a two-day special show, the ‘Hydrogen Engine Alliance’ – supported by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Bosch, Mahle and Daimler Truck, among others – impressively demonstrated the potential of this technology.
‘Alternative drive systems are the future of the commercial vehicle industry. I found it particularly exciting to learn about the possibilities offered by hydrogen engines. This type of drive system is probably the least known of the alternatives to date. However, over the past few days, it has been very clear to see how much interest visitors have in hydrogen, but also in renewable drive systems in general,’ says Jochen Bortfeld, project manager at NUFAM.
Technically convincing
The Digital Services and Charging@NUFAM forums scored highly with their compact specialist knowledge and practical details. The short, concise 15-minute sessions were particularly well received by participants. ‘This allows you to listen to several presentations and gain a lot of insight in a short space of time,’ praised Marie Simon from telematics manufacturer Abona.
In addition, the trade fair offered a varied supporting programme with specially tailored tours: Classic provided an overview of NUFAM and the industry, Kommunal addressed the needs of cities and municipalities, and New Mobility focused on alternative drive systems.
Vehicles in action
The Demo Park was one of the most popular areas at NUFAM. At the new Peter Gross Bau site, exhibitors presented their vehicles in live operation, accompanied by moderated demonstrations.
Both organisers and exhibitors gave a positive assessment: the site proved to be a suitable platform for showcasing products under real conditions and enabling direct exchange with the trade audience. The location of the Demo Park in particular meant that many visitors came into contact with the stands at an early stage.
Special trucker programme
Once again, the Truck Driver Forum, which addressed current challenges facing the industry, was an integral part of the event. Topics discussed included the shortage of truck parking spaces in Germany and Vision Zero, which aims to prevent serious truck accidents in the long term. The ‘Hellwach mit 80 km/h’ (Wide awake at 80 km/h) initiative also presented its approaches to preventing rear-end collisions at the end of traffic jams.
The trade fair also offered practical experiences for the driving public. ‘I am a truck driver myself and have driven both large and small trucks for many years. We are at NUFAM to see what's new. I particularly like the fact that you can test drive the vehicles yourself,’ said Michael Fischer from Strasbourg.
Further information about the trade fair can be found here:
