Duration:2018 – End of 2025

Funding Organisation: Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action)

Research Partners:

• Die Autobahn GmbH des Bundes
• e-netz Südhessen AG
• Siemens Mobility GmbH

Description

The systematic investigation of electrification alternatives for road freight transport using overhead lines and specially developed pantographs (eHighway) began in 2010 with the ENUBA project. Motivated by the proven, basically technical feasibility, the development activities within the ENUBA 2 project were expanded and intensified. In ENUBA and ENUBA 2, it was also possible to formulate a number of hypotheses on open questions with regard to road planning, construction and operational aspects, which, however, have not yet been further examined.

Based on the result of various (sub)projects which have already been successfully completed and the conditions created for the safe and compliant operation of a corresponding overhead line system, the current activities of the project participants are concentrated on the consistent evaluation of all the potential benefits and challenges of this electrification alternative. These activities are bundled under the acronym ELISA II. Structured into the two components ELISA II-A, the actual operation of the overhead contact line system, and ELISA II-B, the accompanying scientific research, answers and solutions to questions and problems will be intensively worked out within a few years, on the basis of which it will be possible to develop a sustainable system up to marketability.

To generate important research data for this purpose, the overhead line hybrid trucks will provide important findings on a section of motorway in real operation, in order to be able to make well-founded statements on almost all conceivable questions and problems from a traffic, energy, ecological, economic, legal and social perspective. During the test operation, the functionality and reliability of the associated vehicle and infrastructure systems as well as the ability of the vehicles to be integrated into the road traffic system, the energy supply system and into existing logistical processes of transport companies are also fundamentally researched. Finally, the development of target-group-specific guidance papers will lay the foundation for future expansion efforts of the system.

The ELISA II project will – in line with the electromobility agendas of the Federal Government and the State of Hesse – contribute significantly to the overall social goal of providing ready-for-use and reliable electrification options for all transport modes and transport profiles within the next few years.