A milestone in battery testing technology

The event kicked off with the opening of the state-of-the-art battery testing facility of VDL ETS. Henri Koolen, Executive Vice President of VDL Groep, and the newly appointed Mayor of Helmond, Mr. Sjoerd Potters, led the opening ceremony. Glenn Haverkort, Managing Director of VDL ETS, commented: “With the launch of our new facilities, which we are proud to call the largest in the Benelux, we are advancing the journey towards zero-emission mobility. Automotive Campus offers us access to a thriving ecosystem of companies and a large pool of talent that is key to shaping the future of the industry.”

Innovative demonstrations: A glimpse into the future

Exclusive demonstration tours followed, giving participants insight into groundbreaking technologies from key players such as TU/e ​​student team InMotion, TNO, IM Efficiency and VDL ETS. Each company highlighted their contribution to sustainability through technology integration.

IM Efficiency demonstrated their revolutionary SolarOnTop system, a solar solution for trailers with roof-mounted panels, lithium batteries and intelligent energy management. This innovation allows trucks and trailers to generate renewable energy directly from sunlight.

InMotion tackles the challenge of charging speed in electric mobility with their Electric Refueling technology. “Our proprietary battery pack cooling system has achieved a charging time of just 3 minutes and 56 seconds,” a spokesperson for the team shared. “We want to inspire organizations and society to embrace the next generation of electric vehicles.”

Pieter Rahusen, Business Developer at Automotive Campus, emphasized the central role of the campus: “Automotive Campus is not just a place where companies are located; it is an ecosystem where talent, knowledge and innovation come together. This event shows that our region is at the forefront of the energy transition and offers solutions for global mobility challenges.”

Speakers emphasize innovation and collaboration

Throughout the day, leading speakers from the sector emphasized the importance of innovation. Bert van Mil of DENS shared his vision at the event: “Our modular systems are designed for practical applications and deliver power where you need it,” van Mil noted. “The demand for battery modules as an alternative to combustion engines has grown beyond our expectations.” As a pioneer in innovation, DENS introduced the new PH9 Power Trailer, together with Powerhub battery containers. These mobile energy solutions deliver clean, reliable energy for construction, infrastructure and grid stabilization. DENS’ grid hub systems also address critical energy challenges, such as peak load scarcity, emergency power and inadequate grid connections. By providing these comprehensive solutions, DENS helps companies reduce their environmental footprint and adapt to sustainable energy systems.

At VDL Groep, the focus is on researching, developing and testing new ideas in the field of mobility, with the aim of realizing zero-emission transport, such as battery or hydrogen vehicles. The company also focuses on energy transition, autonomous vehicles and the development of sustainable hardware and software solutions for mobility and energy storage.

The keynote speaker from this organization, Hans Bekkers, Director Business Development at VDL Special Vehicles adds: “With over 300 million kilometers of experience in battery and hydrogen electric powertrains, VDL is at the forefront of the zero-emission mobility revolution. Our extensive track record in both battery and hydrogen electric solutions underlines our commitment to sustainability and innovation. By offering a range of options, we ensure that our customers can choose the best solution for their specific applications, whether it is buses, trucks, off-road, airport and/or agricultural equipment.”

We concluded the afternoon with Summa Automotive Racing. Student Niels Teunissen van Manen showed achievements in the field of sustainable mobility by participating in a global hydrogen competition. Richard Hoogenboom, team leader at Summa Automotive, is of course very proud of Team42, the student team that participated in the challenge: “At Summa Automotive we prepare our students for the future of the Automotive industry. This means that we have petrol heads & EV Fanatics! We teach about combustion engines, electric vehicles and alternative fuels such as H2.”

A call to action

At the end of the event, Bram Hendrix, moderator of the day and program manager at RAI Automotive Industry NL, reflected on the results of the day: “The challenges ahead are immense, but the progress and collaborations shown today confirm that we are on the right track. Together we are making steps towards intelligent and sustainable mobility solutions.”

AutoMEETive has once again underlined the role of the Automotive Campus as a catalyst for innovation, collaboration and ambition and strengthened its position as a leader in the transition to a zero-emission society.

The photo shows Henri Koolen, Executive Vice President of VDL Groep (center), and Mayor Sjoerd Potters of the Municipality of Helmond (second from right), who are being guided by Glenn Haverkort, director of VDL ETS.

This event was organized by the Holland High Tech Roadmap Electronics team, High Tech NL and Prodrive. Made possible by a Holland High Tech MIT-Network activities subsidy (MIT-regeling–NetwerkActiviteiten).