Working together for hydrogen
Which applications does hydrogen offer in reality? Which experience have companies already gained with this energy carrier? Where is political support needed? These questions were subject of a discussion between state parliament member Stefan Teufel and regional companies. The common conclusion: Schwarzwald-Baar-Heuberg must be given greater consideration in the state’s infrastructure planning.
With regard to the transport sector, our managing director Marius Neininger emphasized: “If Germany wants to become climate-neutral, it will have to rely on transport companies. But this needs nationwide refueling stations, reliable pipelines and competitive vehicles.”The transport industry has no planning certainty. It is the declared aim of his work as chairman of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce Committee for Transport and Infrastructure to push this forward.
“Successful transformation is only possible in a network,” emphasised Wolfgang Häußler from the Marquardt Group. As chairman of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce Committee automotive working group, he reflected the mood of the regional suppliers. “Hydrogen technology offers opportunities for new products and services. But this requires an exchange between companies, science and educational institutions.” However, regional automotive suppliers often have little capacity for research and development. Häussler: “It is therefore important that universities and vocational training centres are also strengthened in the development of hydrogen technology.
We would like to thank Mr Stefan Teufel for his time and the active exchange about this subject. His conclusion: “Hydrogen technology has the potential to fundamentally change the economic region Schwarzwald-Baar-Heuberg. We want to develop this in a positiv way and are therefore committed to it.”
Image source: ©MdL Teufel
(from left to right): Wolfgang Häussler (Marquart Group), Nikolas Haller (Haller Industriebau), Dominik Bucher (Buerk Kauffmann), Lothar Reinhardt, Thomas Albiez (IHK), Marius Neininger (Bächle Logistics), Stefan Teufel, Ulrich Köngeter, Philipp Hilsenbek (IHK).
On May 4, 2023, the session of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Committee for Transport and Infrastructure took place at our Logistic Center Villingen (LCV).
The members of the Transport Committee exchanged views on currently relevant traffic-related topics in the region.
The session focused particularly on the topic of hydrogen and its potentials and limitations in technology.
Would you and your company like to get involved in this committee as well?
Is your company based in the Schwarzwald-Baar-Heuberg region?
We look forward to receiving your email or call at: hilsenbek@vs.ihk.de; 07721 922-123.
Further information about the Committee for Transport and Infrastructure.
Picture source: @Pixel-Agentur
Ecologically conscious, innovative, and practical – Europe’s prestigious Eco Performance Award was once again granted to pioneers in sustainability within the commercial road freight industry this year.
The official award ceremony took place on May 8, 2023, in Munich.
We are extremely pleased to have successfully reached the position of being among the top two finalists.
Recognizing our commitment to achieving a 46% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2032, as well as our ongoing sustainability endeavours, we were honoured to receive the 2nd place Eco Performance Award.
We extend a appreciation to our fleet manager, Alexander Klee, for his exceptional dedication.
As of December 2022, we are an official member of the Baden-Württemberg Climate Alliance. We have set ourselves the target of reducing our total greenhouse gas emissions by at least 2,300 tonnes of CO2e by 2032 compared to the base year of 2020 on our road to climate neutrality.
Goals:
We have set ourselves the target of reducing our total greenhouse gas emissions by at least 2,300 tonnes of CO2e by 2032 compared to the base year of 2020 on our road to climate neutrality. This corresponds to around a 46 percent reduction in greenhouse gases, which is divided amongst Scope 1, 2 and 3:
Scope 1 and 2
reduction by at least 2,000 tonnes of CO2e. This corresponds to about a 50 percent decrease in greenhouse gases.
Scope 3
Reduction by at least 300 tonnes of CO2e. This corresponds to about a 30 percent decrease in greenhouse gases.
Measures
Vehicle fleet
- Verstärkter Einsatz von H2-LKW und Elektrofahrzeugen.
Scope 2
Electricity
- Creation of a photovoltaic plante.
- Conversion of existing courtyard lighting to LED bulbs.
- Conversion of additional existing lights to LED lighting.
- LED lighting, optimum insulation and photovoltaics to be pushed at new buildings/extensions at existing worksites.
Heating
- Switchover from gas central heating to an energy-saving variety.
Scope 3
Commuter traffic
- Options will be considered as to how employees can commute to work in a carbon-neutral way.
- Work bike or option to form carpools.
Business trips
- Business trips will become more carbon-neutral.
Waste
- Minimisation of generated waste
- Optimisation of transport to recycle/dispose of waste.
Our first hydrogen-powered lorry is taking to the roads across Germany
Hydrogen is an indispensable source of energy when it comes to the logistics mobility revolution. The move towards replacing fossil fuels with hydrogen is a major opportunity for our industrial site and will most certainly guarantee our competitiveness in the future.
We are expanding our fleet with a state-of-the-art Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell hydrogen-powered lorry. The green liner makes two trips a day between Villingen and Switzerland. The use of hydrogen-powered lorries saves approximately 0.68kg / km of CO2 compared to a similar diesel lorry. This is based on a planned annual usage of around 80,000 km – 54,400 kg of CO2.
As of 2022, we are the first logistics provider to officially join the Baden-Württemberg Climate Alliance.
Vehicle details:
The XCIENT Fuel Cell is fitted with a 180 kW hydrogen fuel cell system with two 90 kW fuel cell stacks. The longevity of the fuel cell system and overall fuel economy of the vehicle have been developed to meet the requirements of commercial fleet customers.
The 350 kW electric motor with a maximum torque of 2,237 Nm allows for powerful engine performance, even during ascents and gradients in mountainous regions.
With 7 hydrogen tanks, the XCIENT Fuel Cell holds a combined storage capacity of around 31 kilograms of hydrogen along with a 72 kWh battery pack containing three high-performance batteries as an additional source of energy. The manufacturer specifies a maximum range of around 400 kilometres. The seven hydrogen tanks can be completely refilled in around eight to twenty minutes depending on the ambient temperature.
Thanks to its range and rapid refuelling, this fuel cell technology is the perfect solution for freight transport.
Infrastructure:
the main challenge of using carbon-neutral lorries is the lack of infrastructure for refuelling and producing green hydrogen in Baden-Württemberg. The vehicle can therefore only be used in conjunction with the refuelling infrastructure in Switzerland.
Thinking ahead, we submitted a funding application in 2021 with the aim of producing and refuelling green hydrogen at the Herdenen industrial estate in Villingen, which was unfortunately not granted.
Currently, it can be assumed that the industry will soon be in a position to produce carbon-neutral commercial vehicles. However, the infrastructure in Germany will delay its implementation due to a lack of hydrogen and electricity.
Together with a consortium of businesses and experts, as well as the city of Villingen-Schwenningen, we have made a new attempt to establish this infrastructure.
The aim is to conduct research regarding the production and usage feasibility of hydrogen at the Herdenen industrial estate to respond to the infrastructure needs of this heavily logistics-oriented region.
In the process, the potential for producing green electricity for electrolytic hydrogen production will be established. The initial steps towards implementing this together with the city of Villingen-Schwenningen will be taken as part of an introductory workshop and follow-up workshop.
More information about the BW Climate Alliance is available here.
Two former competitors are now forging paths together.
On 1 February 2023, the Effinger shipping company based in Brigachtal joined the Bächle Hugger Group. Following the takeover, the existing transhipment warehouse measuring 2,000 m² has increased the logistics opportunities of our subsidiary LCV.
The Effinger shipping company reinforces our Bächle Hugger team with 50 new employees and around 30 lorries.
We are particularly looking forward to overcoming future challenges together with Michael, Matthias and Theresa Effinger.
Nolden joins the Bächle Hugger Group in early 2023
From the start of this year, the Nolden shipping company based in Kerpen with premises covering 25,000 m² has become part of the Bächle Hugger Group.
With a logistics area of more than 10,000 m², we are able to offer even more storage space for our mutual customers. From April 2023, an additional logistics area with 5,000 spaces will become available in Frechen, measuring 7,500 m² with block storage/high-shelf storage.
Nolden Logistics reinforces our Bächle Hugger team with 60 new employees, around 30 lorries and 50 trailers. We look forward to facing the challenges of the future together.
Gaiser Logistics joins the Bächle Hugger Group in early 2023
Since the beginning of the year, Gaiser Logistics, with its sites in Germany (Rielasingen-Worblingen) and Switzerland (Ramsen) and premises of more than 17,000 square metres, is now owned by the Bächle Hugger Group. With warehousing capacity of more than 5,000 m², we are able to offer plenty of storage space for our mutual customers. Gaiser Logistics instantly enhances our transport and logistics portfolio with over 40 years of experience in customs clearance.
The Bächle Hugger team has been reinforced with 50 new employees and around 30 additional, company-owned lorries. We look forward to facing the challenges of the future together.
Bächle and Hugger become Bächle Hugger
As of 1 January 2022, southern Germany has gained a popular player on the logistics and shipping market: By consolidating the operations of the Hugger company founded in 1938 under one roof, this resulted in a new, yet traditional brand – Bächle Hugger.