Germany has trial project using overhead electric cables to charge hybrid trucks while driving

Germany has a trial project that is using electrified cables to recharge the batteries in hybrid trucks as they are driving. The cable system called the eHighway was developed by Siemens and works with a custom Scania truck developed by the VW group.

For now the eHighway is only six miles long

The Business Insider reported on the project: "On Tuesday, the German government introduced the technology on a six-mile-long stretch of Autobahn near the city of Frankfurt. It uses 670-volt direct-current overhead cables which let electric trucks draw down power and recharge their batteries on the go. The program, called ELISA (electrified innovative heavy traffic on the Autobahn), is an environment ministry-sponsored project involving electronics giant Siemens and authorities from the state of Hesse, where it is taking place."

The trial is set to run until 2022 and it will be decided then if the project will be expanded.

How the system works

The eHighway delivers 670 volts to the custom made truck's pantographs a type of conductor rods. They can be seen in the appended video and photo. Trucks must be traveling less than 56 mph to use the system. However, the trucks can run entirely on their electric motors while on the system and at the same time they are charging their electric batteries. Once it is off the grid it can continue running on its batteries until the diesel engine is needed.

The eHighway has already seen trials

Siemens' eHighway technology has also been demonstrated in Sweden and California. Sweden has also installed underground rails on one road that are capable of charging electric cars. Actually running vehicles from electric cables is an old technology still used in many cities around the world to power trolley buses.

In time we may see fully electric large trucks

Siemens claims the technology will save a 40-ton truck 20,000 euros ($22,000) in fuel costs over 62,100 miles. In the longer term a fully electric truck such as the planned Tesla Semi could save much more by being fully electric. They would not be limited to specific lanes on a limited number of highways. However, with present batteries large electric trucks would have a limited range before they need to have a recharge.

Germany planning more electrification of trucks

The German transport ministry recently issued a study claiming that 80 percent of Germany's truck traffic could soon be electrified.

Two more eHighway sections are already in the process of being built. One is in the north in Schleswig-Holstein, and the other in the southwest in Baden-Wurttemberg.

Previously published in the Digital Journal

Germany-based Siemens plans to slash around 6,900 jobs

Siemens announced it will cut about 6,900 jobs or close to two percent of its global work force. Most cuts, about 6,100 will be made at the Power and Gas division and will happen before 2020.

Solar and wind electricity production cut demand for turbines

The division once thrived as a it supplied large gas turbines used to generate electricity. The global surge in solar and wind power production has dampened demand.

Lisa Davis, a member of the Siemens management board said: “The power generation industry is experiencing disruption of unprecedented scope and speed. With their innovative strength and rapidly expanding generation capacity, renewables are putting other forms of power generation under increasing pressure. Today's action follows a nearly three-year effort to right-size the business for this changing marketplace."

The Process and Drives division that makes large drives for oil and gas extraction as well as turbines will also suffer a hit and could face forced layoffs.

The division had a low profit ratio last quarter of just 2.9 percent.

About half of the jobs cuts will be in Germany

The company did not specify the costs of the layoff which will be unpopular with many German politicians busy trying to form a new government.

IG Metall, the largest trade union in Germany was critical of Siemens management for not responding earlier to the crisis in conventional power generation. The union demanded there be no forced redundancies.

Juergen Kerner, of IG Metall and also a member of Siemens' supervisory board said: “Job cuts of this magnitude are totally unacceptable given the company is in an outstanding overall position.”

Brigitte Zypries, the German Economy Minister urged Siemens to treat workers fairly. She said that the company should ensure that sites in structurally weak areas be preserved: “The workers are very concerned and uncertain about their future. I hope that Siemens works closely with the unions to find fair solutions for the affected sites.”

Large Egyptian order kept turbine production humming up to now

As discussed in a recent Digital Journal article. Siemen's competitor General Electric (GE) is also cutting back on staff including in its power division.

A huge order from Egypt of 8 billion Euros or $9 billion for power generation kept Siemen's factories going for the last two years. Now that order is finished.

Demand and prices are down for turbines

There is now a huge overcapacity in the market and prices have plunged 30 percent since 2014.

Total demand for the turbines is expected to bottom at 110 turbines a year whereas there is a global manufacturing capacity of about 400 turbines according to Siemens.

Janina Kugel, in charge of group human resources at Siemens said: “The market is burning to the ground”.

A new company focus

As well as shedding some operations, Siemens appears poised to remodel itself as an industrial software company.

As well as listing its healthcare unit, Siemens is putting its wind and rail business into joint ventures.

Previously published in Digital Journal