How Vorarlberg is designing the future of mobility
04.12.2025
The transport sector is one of the areas with the highest energy consumption in Austria. Electric drives, intelligent charging strategies and the use of vehicle batteries as flexible energy storage systems are paving the way for a climate-friendly future. Two ongoing projects at the FHV, Interreg FreeE-Bus and FFG EBusCharge, are conducting research into optimized charging management for e-buses in the Lake Constance region.
"Here in Vorarlberg, we as a region have the opportunity to work with all relevant partners on solutions for the sustainable integration of e-buses into the energy system at an early stage. We want to make the knowledge gained in this way accessible to everyone," says Peter Kepplinger, Head of the Energy research center and the illwerke vkw endowed professorship. At the Industrial Day, he will provide an initial summary of the electrification of bus fleets.
For and with the next generation
The close cooperation between research, teaching and strong industry partners at the FHV is creating solutions that will have a decisive impact on the everyday lives of the next generation. "Our students are not just observers, but can actively help shape solutions for their future," explains Benedikt Reick, head of the master's degree programme in Mechatronics and the Smart Engineering Technologies research groups at the FHV. In addition to impulses from research and practice, project work plays a central role in the degree programme: "Our technical degree programmes deal with sustainable Energy and mobility. We offer our students various opportunities not only to develop ideas, but also to test their practical suitability," he adds.
Climate-friendly future
Young scientist Dominik Bauer, research associate at the Energy research center and graduate of the master's degree programme in Mechatronics at the FHV, recently received the "Young Scientist Best Paper Award" at the International Energy Industry Conference in Vienna. Based on the two e-bus research projects and his master's thesis, his paper focused on a future electric bus depot in Vorarlberg. By applying various algorithms for bus charging, he was able to demonstrate the potential that lies in reducing peak loads. "I like to delve deep into complex topics in order to understand them as well as possible. My work at the Energy research center and the knowledge I gained from my studies give me the opportunity to actively contribute to solutions for a climate-friendly future. That's exactly what motivates me every day," explains Dominik Bauer.
Exchange between research, teaching and practice
The Industrial Day on January 15, 2026 at the FHV is aimed at anyone interested in sustainable mobility, intelligent energy technologies and practical innovations. At the same time, the event offers an ideal opportunity for prospective students to gain an insight into the FHV's technical degree programmes and talk to students and lecturers, with speakers using specific projects to provide insights into current developments and applications in the region and beyond:
- Christian Eugster, Managing Director E-VO
- Holger Streitz, University Management Engineering and Technology at Liebherr Nenzing
- Viktor Warth, Head of System Engineering Division Electrified Powertrain Technology at ZF Friedrichshafen
- Peter Kepplinger, Head of the Energy research center at the FHV and the illwerke vkw endowed professorship
The event is free of charge.
