8:45 – 10:15 Technical session 1
Performance evaluation of Solid-state Li-ion batteries with a novel solid composite elecrolyte under automotive driving conditions – Pasquale Romano, Arianna Tiozzo, Riccardo Rocca, Giovanna Nicol, Daniele Di Lecce, Mohammed Mezaal, Philippe M. Vereecken, Mohammadhosein Safari, Nagler Felix, Anaïs Falgayrat, Alix Ladam and Mattia Giuliano (submission number 599)
A Bottom-Up Framework for Early-Stage Battery Concept Development – Till Banning, Florian Pampel, Thomas Nemeth, Pascal Nischwitz and Michael Stapelbroek (submission number 633)
Modelling the Feasibility and Benefits of Vehicle-to-Grid Technology for Urban Bus Fleets: the Case Study of London – Jeevan Ball, Aruna Sivakumar, Jacek Pawlak and Justin Yiu (submission number 655)
Multi-port Megawatt Charging System (MCS) Hub Optimization Framework for Light and Heavy-duty Electric Vehicles – Shahid Jaman, Amin Dalir, Thomas Geury, Carlo Mannu, Marcel Ecker and Omar Hegazy (submission number 1196)
Enhancing battery diagnostics using On-Chip Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy – Igor Mele, Pegah Rahmani, Samo Penič, Sajib Chakraborty, Omar Hegazy and Tomaž Katrašnik (submission number 1476)
Data-Driven AI Framework for Predictive Maintenance of Fuel Cell Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Batuhan Cinar, Serhat Ege Inanc, Bugra Eyidogan, Ali Serdar Atalay and Ahu Ece Hartavi Karci (submission number 1548)
The European Union is closely looking at its industry competitiveness as a key policy focus. For the mobility sector, this is particularly true in the context of the digital and green transitions. The “Competitiveness Compass” and the “Clean Industrial Deal” are key initiatives aimed at bolstering the EU’s industrial strength, addressing challenges like high energy costs, supply chain vulnerabilities, and the need for innovation. The aim of this session is to bring together leading figures from Europe’s transport industry to discuss the enabling conditions needed to support the sector’s transition – and that of its value chain – toward cleaner and smarter mobility.
The Industrial Round Table will examine how the European industry can establish a direction for progress leading up to 2030 and onward to 2050. The discussion should mainly focus on 3 questions: What is the status of Europe’s global leadership in the transport and mobility sector? How can research and innovation enhance the competitiveness of the sector? What are industry representatives’ expectations vis-à-vis the EU’s research and innovation activities for the sector in view of the next EU Framework Programme for R&I?
Speakers:
Carole Desnost, Director of Technologies, Innovation and Group Projets, SNCF
Dr. Gunnar Stiesch, Chief Technology Officer, Everllence
Jens Holtinger, Executive Vice President, Volvo Group’s Trucks Technology & Industrial Division
The session will explore the governance in transport R&I and the instruments that can boost the EU’s innovation capacities. It will look at the full innovation journey from fundamental research to market deployment and scale-up, analysing best practices of current instruments such as Horizon Europe and the Innovation Fund. It will discuss upcoming instruments in the next MFF with FP10 and the Competitiveness fund. It will also examine the current challenges faced by the EU alongside its innovation chains.
This session aims to find answers to the following questions: how can we address current challenges linked to transport R&I in the EU in both the short and long term? Which governance models are best to deliver on future of transport R&I? How can we tackle the gap between the fundamental research and deployment?
Keynote speaker:
Roland Jakab, Chief Executive Office, HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network
Panelists:
Dr. Maja Novakovic, Chair, Waterborne Technology Platform
Giorgio Travaini, Executive Director, Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking
Prof. Dr. Meike Jipp, Divisional Board Member for Energy and Transport, German Aerospace Centre (DLR)
Ms. Helene Niklasson, Chair, EUCAR
ALICE Theatre 15:00 – 15:30 presenation by the DECARMOBILE project (ALICE stand, Hall G – D14)
Evaluating Flexibility and Resilience in Battery-Powered Train Operations: A Simulation Approach – Hamdi El Gaied, Andre Chamaret, Patrick Henry and Didier Frugier (submission number 32)
Assessing the Potential for CO2 and Pollutant Emission Reduction via Redistribution of Port-Induced Road Traffic: A Case Study of the Port of Rotterdam – Giovanni De Nunzio, Suzanne Bussod, Celeste Muilwijk and Miklós Doma (submission number 797)
Breaking down the barriers: The evolution of electric truck adoption in transport systems – Henrik Gillström (submission number 979)
Is High-Speed Rail Truly Green? Findings from a Comprehensive Review – Özgül Ardıç and Jan Anne Annema (submission number 1087)
A Tracking Data-Based Evaluation of Truck Electrification Potential in Europe – Maeva Meyer and Thomas Bousonville (submission number 1364)
A modular system for sampling and measuring non-exhaust particles of light-duty vehicles in on-road testing – Athanasios Dimaratos, Dimitris Kontses, Leonidas Ntziachristos and Zisis Samaras (submission number 1521)
Special session
Electric Vehicles have gained important market shares over the last decade in the EU. However, the European automotive industry is facing a fierce competition from contenders from around the world. Further research and innovation to deliver efficient and affordable vehicles, from L-category up to Heavy-Duty, is needed to consolidate the good steps already taken by various EU funded projects, from the European Green Vehicles Initiative (EGVI) and the 2Zero Partnership. Delivering the next generation of EVs, including their batteries and other critical components, also including software, is essential for Europe to remain competitive. These developments should also support the establishment of new value chains, to maintain value added in Europe and facilitate the implementation of circular economy principles in the automotive industry. The session will present the outcome of key EU funded projects in the field and discuss with the audience which are the next Research and Innovation priorities.
In an international context marked by a global race for resources needed for the green transition, this session will focus on the competitiveness of European clean technologies. In a global context, it will explore the challenges that the EU faces to maintain its leadership in the development, manufacturing and deployment of these technologies. The session will look at the EU’s competitive strengths in comparison to other international players and highlight where European efforts should focus to maintain global competitive leadership in transport technologies, taking also into account the specific challenges faced by SMEs and start/scale-ups. The session will also look at best practices from other international players on clean tech competitiveness and whether they can be reproduced at EU level.
This session aims to find answers to the following questions: how can Europe regain or maintain leadership by focusing more on competitiveness? What is the added value of involving third countries into European research programs? How to maintain the European strategic autonomy, technology sovereignty and reduce dependencies from third countries?
Keynote speaker:
Glenn Schmidt, Vice President Global Sustainability, BMW Group
Panelists:
Alberto Maestrini, Chairman, SEA Europe and the VARD group
Magda Kopczyńska, Director-General for Mobility and Transport European Commission
Axel Krein, Executive Director, Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking
Doris Martetschläger, Supply Chain Operations Manager, IKEA supply AG
10:30-12:00 Strategic sessions
The session will explore the current state of charging infrastructure in Europe, (including the deployment of public, semi-public and private charging points, in particular for Heavy Duty and commercial vehicles at logistics hubs and depots), also highlighting the areas of relevance for smart and bi-directional charging.
It aims to bridge R&I and policy to co-develop strategic priorities for the future, and discuss how to further support the rollout of charging infrastructure, in line with the Automotive Action Plan: accelerating the roll-out of charging, grid access, V2X, the ‘European Clean Transport Corridor initiative’, and where relevant the ‘European Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Alliance’, as well as financial instruments like the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF).
The session would provide a strategic context for challenges and opportunities related to the deployment of charging infrastructure for EV and their integration to the grid and would contribute to the development of a comprehensive and sustainable transport system in Europe.
Moderator:
Eric von Breska (DG MOVE)
Rapporteur:
Beatriz Ildefonso (DG RTD)
Speakers:
Michael Bültmann (ABB)
Alessandro Bernardini (Iveco Group)
Mitra Qurban (DHL Group)
Ádám Tóth (E.ON)
Omar Hegazy (VUB)
The need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and related air pollution places zero-emission mobility at the center of urban mobility policies. This session explores strategies to decarbonise urban mobility through technology, integrated planning and behavioral change. It highlights that the transition goes beyond new tech, it requires transforming the mobility ecosystem to improve air quality, reduce noise and congestion, and ensure equitable access. Key themes include the role of electrified public transport (on rail, waterborne and road), integration of new and shared mobility services, and promoting multimodality to shift behavior and boost efficiency. The session also examines urban freight solutions, mobility hubs, and EV infrastructure challenges, emphasizing grid integration and spatial planning. Drawing on research and case studies, it presents pathways and trade-offs for achieving zero-emission transport.
Moderator:
Patrick Mercier-Handisyde (DG RTD)
Rapporteur:
Carmela Canonico (UITP)
Speakers:
Ádám Bodor (BKK)
Marc Rozendal (EIT Urban Mobility)
Katie Black (Transdev)
Johan Leveque (La Poste)
Manfred Seitz (Danube Commission)
14:00-15:30 Technical session 3
Optimizing logistics for a sustainable hydrogen economy: The HELO project – Stefan Walter (submission number 9)
The role of EU funding instruments and IPCEIs in enabling maritime decarbonisation – Paolo Guglia, Caterina Cobino and Andrea Borzacchiello (submission number 173)
Analysis of strategies for LH2 management onboard aircraft during overnight parking – Enrico De Betta, Francesco Mastropierro, Damiano Tormen, Gianvito Apuleo and Michele De Gennaro (submission number 299)
Novel Metal Hydride Cooling System in a Hydrogen Demonstrator Train: Design, Implementation and Technology Assessment – Alexander Wimmer, Markus Kordel, Isabell Moser, Eduardo de la Guerra Ochoa and Manuel Caballero Ocaña (submission number 373)
Evaluating the Potential of Hybrid Ship Retrofitting – Combining Tubercle-Assisted Propellers, Fuel Cells, and Liquid Inorganic H2 Carrier Storage – Rachmat Gunawan, Adrien Aubert, Daria Matignon, Thierry Pacini, Angeliki Deligianni, Leonidas Drikos, Nicholas Lekkas, Tapas Kumar Das, Weichao Shi, James Moore, Joseph Hodgson and Angélique Rouhan (submission number 649)
Advanced photovoltaic technologies for sustainable on board railways services – Anna Lina Ruscelli, Gabriele Cecchetti, Domenico Uomo and Piero Castoldi (submission number 1543)
Special sessions
The 2Zero and CCAM Partnerships have been key tools to plan and coordinate European collaborative R&D in the field of electrification and automation of road transport: this session will discuss their main achievements in Horizon Europe and their potential evolution in the next EU framework programme for 2028-2034. A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between these two Partnerships, the Partnership on Batteries, and the European Commission, to further coordinate the European R&D efforts. The objective is to accelerate the transition of road mobility into electrification and automation by exploiting research results further into implementation. One option for the future is the setup of a new Joint Undertaking, which would support the competitiveness of the European automotive industry.
While essential to reach ambitious EU transport decarbonization targets, the market uptake of ZE-HDVs is still relatively low, with less than 1700 new ZEV-HDV registered in the EU in 2023/24. In cooperation with DG CLIMA, the JRC has carried out a technology state-of-art review of ongoing EU-funded R&I activities, revealing that further efforts in research, technological development and standardisation are needed. Building on this, and on a previous session held at TRA 2024 in Dublin, we will connect technology progress with lessons learned from demonstrations in the AEVETO Cluster projects. Aligned with 2ZERO, ERTRAC and ALICE roadmaps, this session provides a consolidated view of where Europe stands today, what has been achieved through R&I, and what needs to happen next to address systemic, technological and regulatory challenges. The session will consist of short presentations and a panel discussion with representatives of the European Commission, OEMs, Logistics, Battery industry and automation.
09:00-10:00 Plenary session 3
This session will address the challenges linked to the resilience of transport systems. Transport systems can be subject to perturbation and deterioration due to climate change shocks, longer-term climate stresses and other disruptive events. They can also experience digital-related incidents (e.g. cybersecurity). Preparing transport systems resilience and making sure that they can adapt to disruption is crucial to ensure continuity of transport services and safety of passengers. This session will aim to provide examples and initiatives highlighting innovative solutions to reduce negative impacts of disruptive events on transport systems.
The session aims to find answers to the following questions: how can we adapt our transportation infrastructure to the effects of climate change? What kind of adaptation strategies do we need to make the whole system resilient? What are the main barriers to achieve this? How multimodal transportation companies and shippers respond to transport disruptions?
Keynote speaker:
Prof. Alan McKinnon, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Logistics, Kuehne Logistics University
Panelists:
Margarida Marques, European Coordinator, European Coordinator of the TEN-T Rhine-Danube corridor
Uroš Salobir, MSc, Director of the Strategic Innovation Department, ELES, d.o.o.
Dr. Ivan Jimenez Aira, Executive President, Bilbao Port Authority
Dr. Claudia Elif Stutz, Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport of Germany, State-Secretary for Transport
ALICE Theatre 10:00-16:30 (ALICE stand, Hall G – D14)
09:00-10:00 Plenary session 4
Digitalisation of the transport sector is key to improve the efficiency, safety and sustainability of our transport systems. This involves automating processes in transport and production, enhancing connectivity and leveraging data analytics for better decision-making. Digitalisation impacts various aspects of our transport systems, including transportation infrastructure, logistics, mobility and the role of people. It has the potential to lead to new business models, improved traffic management, increased efficiency in operations and reduced environmental impact. This session will focus on the use of AI in the broader system, automation, cybersecurity and data spaces. The session will also explore the disruptive potential of digital technologies such as quantum computing.
The session aims to find answer to the following questions: what are the next big advancements in transport digitalisation? How to address the fast-paced changes brought by digitalisation and make sure they best serve the EU’s transportation system? How to certify AI for mission-critical applications? How can digitalisation support mobility management and law enforcement and what are the barriers of cybersecurity? Which fundamentals will be transformed in the system in terms of use of infrastructure, resilience and competitiveness?
Panelist:
Paola Cossu, CEO at Fit Consulting & Member of the Board of Directors at ALICE, TRA Vision 2024 winner
Stephane Petti, PhD, Principal Advisor, European Innovation Council Fund
Rugilė Andziukevičiūtė-Buzė, Managing Director, Transport Innovation Association Lithuania
Andreas Boschen, Executive Director, SESAR Joint Undertaking