On Wednesday 26th June, 2024, the URBANIZED consortium was joined by guests from across the European urban logistics landscape, including esteemed representatives from the European Commission, to celebrate the success of the EU-funded project. We were also lucky to be joined by ASTRID, the URBANIZED vehicle prototype developed in the Alké Electric Vehicles lab in Padova.

When the project started  in 2021 in the midst of a global pandemic, partners could be forgiven for finding it difficult to imagine such a gathering 3.5 years down the line. However, spending a sunny, warm, enjoyable day together in Brussels was a fitting way to finish the project, and no more than the partners deserved following the collaboration and innovation they have fostered.

The day began with an introduction and word of welcome from Salvador Ruiz and Victor Desmots, joint project coordinators from Applus+ IDIADA. Salvador and Victor must be commended on their ability to manage the project, and the calm nature in which any challenges were dealt with. It goes without saying that they have led the consortium with professionalism and care throughout.

The first half of the day’s proceedings provided an opportunity for partners to present the various work they carried out throughout the project. In the first section, we took a deep dive into the technical aspects of the vehicle. Attendees enjoyed detailed explanations from VUB and Vitesco of novel e-powertrains and scalable e-axle drives, with guests taking the opportunity to ask questions and share their opinions. Then, focus turned to the associated eco-functions of the URBANIZED vehicle. Firstly, partners from CERTH and TNO presented the eco-functions on the cloud, before representatives from VUB and TNO explained the eco-function features of  the vehicle itself.

Following a coffee break and a chance for a brief catch-up, the presentations resumed with a focus on the experience of the real operational tests carried out with bpost in February. Chris Deweirt shared findings and observations from the test period on the streets of Brussels. This was a good chance for attendees to witness how a vehicle such as ASTRID can be used in real-life scenarios.

Safety is a key aspect of the URBANIZED project, and partners from Applus+ IDIADA took us through the various procedures and tests they carried out to secure the four star Euro NCAP rating, a great achievement for all involved. Attendees were shown how crash tests and simulations can be used to effectively enhance the safety levels of the vehicle.

To round off the morning session, Alké, the manufacturers of the vehicle itself, presented the various technical and operational benefits included in the design. Attendees enjoyed learning more about the capabilities of the vehicle, with Lamberto Salvan willingly answering questions from the audience and other partners.

A tasty and refreshing lunch was enjoyed by all, with Maison du Bois providing a good spread of food. During the lunch break, some attendees were taken on a tour of the nearby VUB lab, where they were able to see key project innovations including the e-machine, inverter, and test bench. Many thanks to Omar Hegazy and Duong Tran for leading this tour, it was much appreciated by all who joined.

Once everyone returned, the presentations concluded with a look to the future as partners from Bax shared strategies and opportunities to increase the acceptance and foster market uptake of the URBANIZED vehicle, reflecting on activities during the project and presenting tools to compare the vehicle with similar options on the market.

The afternoon saw two in-depth panel discussions, with a range of project partners given the opportunity to share more details and take questions from the audience.

The first panel discussion was moderated by Eleni Chalkia (CERTH) and focused on the real use cases and impact of the URBANIZED project in the wider urban logistics realm. The panel was made up of Chris Deweirt (bpost), Zisis Maleas (CERTH), Ignacio Magallón (Bax), Sara Martinez and Emilia Romero (both Applus+ IDIADA). The discussions were extremely insightful, with all panelists concluding that collaboration such as that seen during URBANIZED, is necessary and beneficial for advancing automotive technologies to combat rising emission levels.

The second panel discussion was moderated by David Storer (CLEPA) and took a closer look into the technical innovations of the URBANIZED project. The panel, made up of Omar Hegazy (VUB), Armin Hollstein (Vitesco), Lamberto Salvan (Alke), Róbinson Medina (TNO) and Simona Roka (Applus+ IDIADA), shared more details of the relevance and potential of these technical innovations, taking a look to future work in this area and how momentum can be carried into related initiatives. The panelists were more than happy to answer questions from an engaged audience, with some truly thought-provoking themes explored.

The two moderators deserve congratulations and thanks for how they managed the sessions, with both discussions flowing freely and naturally. Both sessions will be available to view shortly after the event.

With the conclusion of the panel discussions, we again heard from Victor and Salvador, who invited  Project Officer Salima Abu Jeriban on stage to deliver some closing remarks. The project consortium would like to extend its thanks to Salima for her support and guidance over the last 3.5 years, it was great to have her with us to celebrate the project.

Generally, the day was enjoyed by all, with refreshments available during a reception to toast URBANIZED. All partners deserve tremendous credit for their hard work and collaboration during the project.

The work carried out during the URBANIZED project can provide a platform for further innovation in this area. It is hoped that our joint work and various solutions can drive the sustainable urban transition by making zero-emission vehicles the best option for everyone.

As mentioned during the day, this may mark the end of the URBANIZED project, but it is only the start of the collaborative efforts to revolutionise last-mile delivery and urban logistics in European cities and beyond.