JOST, a leading global producer and supplier of safety-critical systems for the commercial vehicle industry, joined the newly founded AeroAlliance platform in September 2024. This initiative creates a marketplace for the development and approval of innovative aerodynamic solutions for trailers with the aim of reducing the energy consumption of commercial vehicle fleets and increasing efficiency.
The AeroAlliance has set itself the ambitious goal of making a significant contribution to achieving the EU targets as part of the “Fit for 55” initiative. This requires a reduction in fleet consumption of commercial vehicles by 10 per cent for semi-trailers and 7.5 per cent for trailers by 2030. These savings can be achieved through various efficiency measures, including tyre optimisation, lightweight construction measures, steering and lift axles as well as aerodynamic improvements – the kind of solutions that the AeroAlliance promotes.
“As one of the first companies to join the AeroAlliance, we are emphasising our commitment to actively shaping the future of the logistics industry through innovative technologies and cooperation with other system suppliers and trailer manufacturers,” explained Michael Fischer, Vice President Product Development at JOST. “All in the spirit of our #jostgreen products, which help to make commercial vehicles more environmentally friendly. We provide technologies to support electric or hybrid drives and develop weight-optimised materials to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.”
Cooperation as Key to Increasing Efficiency
The membership in the AeroAlliance offers JOST the opportunity to work together with other companies in the industry on cost-efficient and marketable solutions for aerodynamic optimisation. The approval requirements for these systems are often complex and expensive. By pooling expertise and resources, JOST and the other members of the Alliance can work together to overcome these challenges and realise the full potential of aerodynamic measures for trailers.
“The AeroAlliance was founded to create a much-needed marketplace where suppliers and manufacturers can work together to tackle the complex and expensive approval requirements for aerodynamic solutions,” said Dr Rainer Buffo, Managing Director of aeco.green GmbH, which initiated AeroAlliance. “Our goal is to create synergies between leading players in the industry and to jointly develop innovative approaches that sustainably reduce energy consumption in the transport industry. The platform facilitates the collaboration needed to increase the efficiency of trailer fleets through aerodynamic improvements and to achieve the EU’s climate targets.”
The AeroAlliance currently consists of the companies Hesterberg, HS Schoch, System Trailers and JOST.