From Wolfsburg via Lehrte to Barcelona and back: After a year of intensive practical tests, the project consortium consisting of VDA, Schmitz Cargobull, Sesé, Kombiverkehr, Volkswagen Konzernlogistik and TÜV Rheinland draws a positive balance. The vehicle combination “EcoDuo” has proven itself in the pre- and post-haul phases of intermodal transport and could in the future make an important contribution to increasing efficiency and defossilisation of freight transport, the project partners state in a VDA press release dated September 30.
The EcoDuo is, according to the company, a combination in which two standard semi-trailers – linked with a so-called dolly
– are driven by only one tractor unit. With a total length of 31.70 meters and a permissible gross weight of 40 tonnes (44 tonnes in intermodal transport), it fulfils all technical safety requirements and can be easily integrated into existing structures, it says. In this way, the EcoDuo is intended to act as a link between road and rail. So according to the VDA, the standard semi-trailers – unlike the long-combination truck – can be loaded onto the rail without any issues. The concept offers more transport capacity with fewer trips and can thus make an important contribution
to reducing CO2 emissions. At the same time, it can help counteract the driver shortage, the association says.
Bringing EcoDuo into Regular Operation
The results of the pilot project also showed that transporting the EcoDuo combination on the rail is possible without additional effort. Adjustments, according to the project partners, are only required at the terminals to enable the uncoupling and coupling of the trailers. Now it remains to bring EcoDuo into regular operation. For this, an amendment to the existing regulation on exemptions from road traffic regulations for vehicles and vehicle combinations with overlength is necessary. The project
partners' goal is now to introduce “Type 6” for combinations up to 32 meters in length as a vehicle type. The use should take place on a separately defined positive network that also includes intermodal terminals.
“The EcoDuo is a practical solution for greater efficiency and climate protection in freight transport. The results of the pilot project convincingly show that the concept can be seamlessly integrated into existing structures and is convincing both ecologically and economically. In doing so, we complement the transport- and climate-policy goals of the federal government and sustainably strengthen intermodal transport,” says VDA managing director
