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Siemens to Build eHighway Demo in Germany

<img width="150" src="http://www.automotive-fleet.com/fc_images/news/m-siemens-electricautobahn-1.jpg" border="0" alt="

Overhead lines, like these in Siemens' Swedish demo eHighway, will provide power for trucks. Photo: Siemens

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Overhead lines, like these in Siemens' Swedish demo eHighway, will provide power for trucks. Photo: Siemens

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A new “eHighway," which will allow specially equipped hybrid trucks to access electric power via an overhead trolley-type system, will be built on a 10-kilometer stretch of autobahn in Germany.

Siemens has been commissioned by the German state of Hesse to build an overhead contact line for electrified freight transport. The system will be installed on the A5 federal autobahn near the the Frankfurt Airport.

With this field trial, the eHighway will be tested on a public highway in Germany for the first time. Siemens will be responsible for the planning, construction and, as an option, maintenance of the system. The system is being built as part of the joint project "Electrified, innovative heavy freight transport on autobahns" (ELISA) of Germany's Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety.

"Construction of the system will demonstrate the feasibility of integrating overhead contact systems with a public highway,” said Gerd Riegelhuth, Head of Transport of Hessen Mobil. “The system will be used for real transport networks, and prove the practicality of climate-neutral freight transport in the urban region of Frankfurt."

Siemens says its eHighway is twice as efficient compared to internal combustion engines. That not only means cutting energy consumption in half, but also significantly reducing local air pollution.

The core element of the system is an intelligent pantograph on the trucks combined with a hybrid drive system. Trucks equipped with the system operate locally emission-free with electricity from the overhead line and automatically switch to a hybrid engine on roads without overhead lines.

Siemens built its first eHighway demonstration project in Sweden.

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FedEx Express Driver Named National Grand Champion

A Massachusetts driver for FedEx Express took home the title of Bendix Grand Champion this weekend from the American Trucking Associations' 2017 National Truck Driving Championships in Orlando, Florida.

Roland Bolduc's driving accuracy and knowledge of truck safety surpassed the more than 420 other state champion professional truck drivers competing in all vehicle classes last week.

Bolduc, who also took home the Sleeper Berth class title, lives in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, and has more than 1.9 million safe driving miles in his career. He has worked in the trucking industry for more than 36 years, spending the last 23 years with FedEx Express. Bolduc was named an America's Road Team Captain in 2000.

ATA also recognized Bryce Neilson as the 2017 Rookie of the Year. Neilson claimed the title after performing well in the Flatbed division. Additionally, the team of drivers from Kentucky produced the best collective score, with an average of 307.13, and were honored as the top state delegation.

Professionalism and dedication to the trucking industry were key themes during the National Truck Driving Championships. Daniel Shamrell was honored during the awards banquet with the Neill Darmstadter Professional Excellence Award and Joe Smith was chosen as the Lifetime Volunteer Award recipient.

Champions from each of the nine vehicle classes were also announced. Joining Roland Bolduc on the list of national champions are:

3-Axle: Glen Kirk, Franklin, Indiana, Old Dominion Freight Line

4-Axle: James Duffy, Marshall, Wisconsin, FedEx Freight

5-Axle: Michael Miltenberger, Cumberland, Maryland, PITT OHIO

Flatbed: Wayne Crowder, Louisville, Kentucky, FedEx Freight

Sleeper Berth: Roland Bolduc, East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, FedEx Express

Straight Truck: Richard Bailey, Macomb, Michigan, FedEx Freight

Tank Truck: Scott Woodrome, Middletown, Ohio, FedEx Freight

Twins: Chris Poyner, Richland, Washington, XPO Logistics

Step Van: Michael Bills, Fuquay Varina, North Carolina, FedEx Express

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