Electrifying results of 2Zero @ the RTR Conference 2026

Last week, EGVIAfor2Zero co-organised, together with ERTRAC, CCAM and the European Commission, the 9th RTR Conference, dedicated to results from road transport research.

The conference is a unique entry point to learn about the findings of EU-funded projects in the area of road transport, and 2Zero featured prominently with 23 projects presenting in 8 sessions.

EM-TECH, HEFT and VOLTCAR presented for the second time in the conference and outlined significant results addressing the challenging cumulative targets for next-generation electric motor technologies. With achievements on testing, cost reduction, raw materials consumption reduction and electric motor performance, they will support the development of a new generation of high efficient and low-cost electric motors.

SCAPE, PowerDrive, RHODaS, HiPE, and HIGHSCAPE highlighted the role of advanced power electronics and associated controls to improve EV performance. With results leading towards driving range extension, cost reduction, and integration of eco-design and circularity, they will contribute to accelerate electrification of road transport in Europe.

Electrification cannot be discussed without keeping the users in mind, and that was the highlight of the session gathering SMARTCORNERS, MINDED, and EFFEREST, presenting solutions to increase comfort through improved thermal and energy management and related control strategies.

The two projects funded under the joint call between 2Zero and Batt4EU, InnoBMS and iBattMan, shared their first results on battery management systems. InnoBMS targets current BMS limitations through assembly-free integration, modular software, self-testing capabilities and real-time testing. iBattMan focuses on a modular, scalable BMS architecture to reduce cost and improve performance across vehicle segments.

Our fourth pillar, dealing with Life-cycle assessment and circular economy, was not overlooked, with two of our projects presenting in this area. TranSensus LCA summarised its main findings and presented its guidelines for a harmonised life-cycle approach and activities toward a Life Cycle Inventory. A great step forward towards a single methodology that could be applied across Europe and will be continuously updated by the ERTRAC working group. ZeVRA presented its strategy: a holistic approach to reduce the use of virgin materials, addressing all together steel, aluminium, polymers, glass, rubber and aiming at a higher content of PCR plastics.

Together with the SALIENT project, GIANTS and ZEV-UP delivered energising presentations on mobility solutions for urban use that sparked discussions on the concept of frugal vehicles, the role of digital twins, and the safety of smaller, lighter vehicles.

Our two projects addressing Software Defined Vehicles (SDVs), TWIN-LOOP and CODE4EV, were joined on stage by the HAL4SDV project, the only Chips-JU project presenting this year. Unlocking the potential of digital tools to reduce energy consumption, reduce hardware costs and improve driver experience will only become more and more essential. In parallel, SDVs can leverage activities to reduce development time, and, consequently, cost.

The parallel session on smart and flexible charging of EVs brought together several of the V2X cluster projects: FLOW, EV4EU, SCALE, and XL-Connect. This session offered a lot of food for thought for the future R&I priorities, whether on better integration of EVs into the energy system, vehicle-to-grid strategies or end-user behaviours.

Across the three days, these results echoed the opening messages from our Chairman, Dr.-Ing Stephan Neugebauer: innovation must translate into affordable, resilient, competitive and market-ready solutions that users actually want to buy.
To succeed, it will be essential to shorten development cycles, strengthen research-to-market mechanisms, and scale-up innovative solutions.

If you missed the RTR Conference, you can still access the replays on our YouTube channel, and download the projects presentations. (Link validity until 16 March 2026).