The trucking industry is continuously searching for new ways to improve the costs of commercial transport and to maximize the productivity.

Siemens wants to redefine the way of commercial transportation and has introduced a futuristic and innovative concept named the “eHighway of the future”. The new idea was presented at the 26th Annual Electric Vehicle Symposium in Los Angeles.

Shortly, this concept’s purpose is to electrify the trucks by using overhead electrified wires for highways, which are similar with those used by today’s city trolleys.

Siemens’s CEO, Daryls Dulaney declared that after they made a detailed research, they think that the idea could be put in practice pretty easy using the existing highways and infrastructures.

To put in practice this concept, the company designed a hybrid diesel electric technology which helps the trucks to run on both fuel and electric power. When the truck detects overhead lines it can automatically attach to them and run on electrical power.

Talking about the new concept Dulaney said: “When most people think of vehicle emissions, they assume cars do most of the damage, but it's actually commercial trucks that are largely to blame. Freight transportation on U.S. roadways is expected to double by 2050, while global oil resources continue to deplete. And by 2030, carbon dioxide emissions are forecasted to jump 30% due to freight transport alone.”

At the moment, Siemens tests the concept in Germany and there are also plans to bring the project in US with the first locations being the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

Dulaney added: “It’s really about creating a more sustainable environment. Already more and more consumers are driving electric and hybrid vehicles. If we can get the commercial freight industry to come on board, we’ll decrease emissions dramatically and improve sustainability.”

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Video: Siemens "eHighway of the future” concept