FPT Industrial at the IAA. Interview with Daniele Pozzo

Daniele Pozzo, Head of Marketing and Product Portfolio for FPT Industrial, outlined the four main pillars of the company’s approach at the IAA. The first is sustainability. “We’ve demonstrated that it’s possible to set up a trade fair in a carbon-neutral way,” Pozzo explained. “As we’ve done at other events, we carefully analyzed the assembly, use, and dismantling phases to minimize emissions. For instance, the stand components were transported by a fleet of IVECO S-Way trucks powered by our Cursor 13 Natural Gas engines, fueled by BioLNG supplied by Shell. This process reduces CO₂e emissions by 99% over the lifecycle compared to B7 diesel for the same route. After the event, we’ll identify residual emissions and offset them with certified carbon credits.”

The second pillar is customer proximity. “We’ve provided a dedicated space at our stand, both physical and virtual, to bring customers closer to our products. Through our MyFPT app, users can easily access services like remanufactured parts, oils, and more at their fingertips.”

On the product side, FPT Industrial is focused on technological innovation. “We’re investing in a multi-energy approach,” Pozzo stated. “Our Cursor 9 engine, now with a hydrogen variant assembled in Bourbon Lancy, showcases this. We’re exploring both direct injection and port fuel injection for hydrogen solutions. Direct injection technology is awaiting industrialization by Tier 1 suppliers, and we anticipate its use in our XCursor 13 H2 by 2028. Port fuel injection, while less efficient, is easier to integrate with the engine and less invasive.”

Finally, Pozzo pointed to their ePowertrain pillar. “On the IVECO stand, we’re showing the Cursor 9 H2, combined with an electric propulsion system as a serial hybrid. In this setup, the engine acts as a range extender, generating electricity by maintaining constant revolutions, which enhances efficiency. This system works in collaboration with our eAxle, and the production timeline could be shortened based on demand.”

“The second demonstrator we’ve introduced is the N67 Hythane engine, which can run on a mixture of hydrogen and natural gas. Our tests show that it can replace up to 50% of the fuel with hydrogen, achieving a corresponding 50% reduction in carbon emissions. We’ve also showcased the F1C Diesel, renowned for its reliability, and the XCursor 13, which exemplifies modularity and connectivity. In fact, we’ve designed our engines to maximize modularity: switching from diesel to natural gas or hydrogen requires only an 80% parts change, with modifications mainly to the heads.”

For the first time, Iveco is presenting a truck powered by the hydrogen-based XCursor 13, while production of the XCursor 13 Natural Gas engine is already underway.

“On the electric front, we’re offering new solutions in e-propulsion. The eAX 840-R, available in two gear ratio variants, powers the S-eWay and Nikola 3. It’s joined by the second-generation eAX 375-R, showcased at ACT Expo. This advanced prototype features multispeed capabilities with 2 or 3 gears, suitable for single eAxle configurations (4×2 or 6×2) or tandem (6×4). Another new entry is the eAX 200-R, which covers the light yet rugged range of 3.5 to 11 tonnes. At FPT Industrial, we refer to it as a ‘3-in-1’ solution, as it integrates the motor, gearbox, and inverter into a compact central unit. This model is still in the prototype phase,” Pozzo explains.

“On the battery side, we’ve introduced the evolution of the eBS 37, known as the 37 EVO. Used in minibuses and the eDaily, it features a modular design with 1 to 4 battery packs assembled at our ePowertrain Plant in Turin. The battery management system (BMS) is developed by FPT Industrial, incorporating code and algorithms we’ve written to enhance safety. The EVO battery adheres to ECE R100.3 standards, integrating safety features that delay thermal propagation for five minutes following a thermal failure, allowing the driver ample time to exit the vehicle. This safety mechanism is patented by FPT Industrial.”