Mechanical mockup successfully assembled

This week, we reached an important milestone at the Institute for Automotive Engineering (ika): We successfully manufactured and assembled the first prototype of the mechanical substructure of our pantograph system. In collaboration with the Chair of Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components (PEM), we were able to test the prototype on an identical diesel truck from the vehicle manufacturer DAF. We were able to successfully test the mechanical integration and gain important insights for further development. The substructure consists of various modules, including the “frame adapter”, which has a modular design and can therefore be used for other vehicle types and frame geometries. This flexibility opens up a wide range of possibilities for retrofitting other trucks in the future.

Finally, the pantograph system was test-mounted on the mechanical substructure to ensure the stability and precision fit of all components. The electrical and communication integration of the system is to be implemented in the battery-electric trucks later on. The concept successfully passed this first mechanical test.