Fraunhofer Institute for Transportation and Infrastructure Systems IVIAt the ees Europe trade show, taking place June 23–25, Fraunhofer IVI is going to demonstrate how applied research supports companies in their transition to electric commercial vehicle fleets using their Underbody Charging System (UBCS) and other solutions. On the night before the trade show's start, The smarter E AWARD ceremony took place, where the UBCS had made it to the finals in the E-Mobility category.
At the international innovation platform The smarter E Europe 2026 in Munich, the Fraunhofer Institute for Transportation and Infrastructure Systems IVI was a finalist in the competition for the prestigious The smarter E AWARD with its Underbody Charging System (UBCS). The award recognizes innovations that make a significant contribution to a renewable energy future. The fact that the Underbody Charging System made it to the finals in the E-Mobility category underscores the importance of robust, practical charging infrastructure for heavy-duty commercial vehicles. At the ees Europe trade show, industry professionals can experience the UBCS and other technologies firsthand at the joint booth of the Saxony Economic Development Agency (Booth B2.150 / B2.151).
Challenges of Fleet Electrification
High energy demands, limited space at depots, strain on the power grid, and rising energy costs—logistics companies, freight forwarders, and municipal utilities face numerous challenges when seeking to electrify their fleets quickly and cost-effectively. Conventional charging infrastructure with large charging stations often reaches its limits here. It requires additional space, is susceptible to vandalism and theft, and is difficult to integrate into tightly scheduled operational concepts. To accelerate the mobility transition in the commercial vehicle sector, reliable and scalable alternatives are therefore needed—and underbody charging is striking a chord in the industry.
Underbody Charging System: Charging at the Push of a Button
With the Underbody Charging System, Fraunhofer IVI presents a fully automated charging system for electric commercial vehicles that is ideally suited for current use cases and can also be easily adapted to future fast-charging requirements without costly modifications. The automated contact system, patented by the institute, connects the vehicle to the infrastructure in a space-saving manner and without any manual intervention, enables high charging power, and meets all safety standards. It eliminates the need for exposed cables and requires no additional space for charging stations. This reduces the risk of vandalism and cable theft and allows for seamless integration into existing logistics areas. The technology is already designed for charging capacities in the megawatt range.
“Being a finalist in the E-Mobility category at The smarter E AWARD is an important validation of our work. It shows that our Underbody Charging System can make a significant contribution to the electrification of commercial vehicles—especially now that electric trucks are making the leap from pilot projects to regular operation,” says Dr. Frank Steinert, Head of the Vehicle Systems Department at Fraunhofer IVI. “For us, this is a strong signal to work with partners to bring our technology to market readiness and widespread use.”
From Fully Automated Charging to Smart Fleet Operations
In addition to the hardware, Fraunhofer IVI will be showcasing their IVImon platform to demonstrate how real vehicle data can be used to make decisions that reduce operating costs. The telemetry and analytics system evaluates every trip—including charging points and energy consumption—and highlights where hidden or avoidable charging costs arise. Operators learn which vehicles are subjected to particularly heavy loads in daily use and how charging behavior, scheduling, and vehicle usage can be optimized to preserve battery life.
In addition to operational analysis, scientifically sound planning tools are used to automatically evaluate vehicle usage profiles, derive recharging strategies, generate AI-supported load forecasts, and identify potential savings in load management. In this way, Fraunhofer IVI combines intelligent charging technology and energy supply with smart analysis and supports companies in operating their e-fleets with technical reliability.
From Research to Practice
“We’ve come to The smarter E 2026 together with partners from Saxony to showcase our solutions for commercial vehicle fleets to precisely those companies that want to get started with electrification right now. Our main goal is to raise awareness of our Underbody Charging System—to that end, we’ve also brought a demonstrator that allows visitors to watch the charging process live from below,” explains Dr. Frank Steinert. “For us, this trade show is the ideal place to discuss with users and experts how electric trucks can be charged both efficiently and safely, and how they can operate in everyday use.”
Fraunhofer IVI invites all interested parties to experience the UBCS at the booth and to discuss the next steps toward cost-effective fleet electrification.