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The crises of the past few years have hit the automotive industry hard. The electromobility sector is also not left unscathed by this. Despite all this, MOTEG has also managed to continue growing in year 2022 and to set the course for further top performance.

The automotive industry is one of the sectors hit hardest globally by the Corona pandemic. A decline in production of almost 50 per cent compared to pre-Corona years, disrupted supply chains, factory closures, lockdowns as a brake on sales, and an overall investment confidence influenced by uncertainty added up to a serious challenge for the entire industry. Even if the effects of the Corona crisis and the Ukraine war on the global fuel market primarily affect the classic combustion engine, electromobility is not left unaffected. In the commercial vehicle sector in particular, however, it is already becoming apparent that, for example, the even more accelerated development in e-commerce due to Corona and the associated need for logistics services will quickly drive demand for commercial vehicles. The fact that electric drives will play a dominant role here in the medium term is not least a political decision in Germany and Europe.

The processes described also apply to MOTEG GmbH. As specialists in development and manufacture of electric motors and auxiliary units for electric commercial vehicles, the company from Handewitt in Schleswig-Holstein makes a contribution both as a supplier and through the further development of technologies and products manufactured on their principles.

“2022 was not an unproblematic year for us either”, explains Dr. Siegfried Götz, CEO of MOTEG GmbH. “Nevertheless, we have managed to build on the successes of the previous years and continue our growth trend.”

In actual fact, with almost EUR 4 million, MOTEG was able to achieve its own ambitious sales targets for 2022. The company has thus succeeded in doubling its turnover for the fourth time in a row. The basis for this is, among other things, an increase of around 20 per cent in the number of customers, with the result that MOTEG is now represented on five continents with its electric motors and auxiliary power units. MOTEG continues to hold its ground primarily in the field of auxiliary power units for electric and fuel cell buses and trucks, but is likewise expanding its activities in the agricultural sector. In 2022, the company also stepped up its presence in the area of communication with representatives of the construction vehicle industry for the first time.

The basis for sustained commercial success is not least the continuous development and expansion of the product portfolio. At the IAA TRANSPORTATION 2022 in September in Hannover, MOTEG was able to give an impression of how technological progress will continue to drive the industry forward in 2023, with its newly developed permanent magnet motors with 10, 20, and 30 kW, with further developed and more powerful screw compressors for compressed air supply (approx. 500 l/min at 145 psi [10 bar], max. 218 psi [15 bar]) as well as with a new diverse range of electro-hydraulics (up to 120 l/min flow rate and up to 3625 psi [250 bar]).

The targets for 2023 are therefore to expand the company’s own production and increase the internal vertical range of manufacture. With this in mind, the newly developed products presented at the IAA TRANSPORTATION are to be rolled out in series production by the summer of 2023. In addition, further new developments in the field of permanent magnet motors and an increase in power to 50 to 80 kW will open up new areas of application.

“2022 has shown us what we are capable of achieving our goals even under difficult conditions”, emphasized Dr. Götz. “The combination of resilience, innovation, motivation, and commitment that distinguishes us, will also be a key factor in the further development of MOTEG in 2023, and thus pave the way for electromobility in the commercial vehicle sector.”

With a return to normality, MOTEG GmbH was once again able to participate in national and international trade fairs in 2022. In addition to promising discussions and positive feedback, fundamental industry trends for the coming years became apparent.

According to the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry (AUMA), around 70 percent of all long-term planned trade fairs in Germany were cancelled in the Corona years 2020 and 2021. This is a serious loss not only for organizers but also for exhibiting companies. In addition, trade fairs always provide a platform for exchange within an industry and can thus also be regarded as a driver of innovation. Important impulses emanate from them, which were thus largely absent for two years. All the greater was the joy that, according to AUMA, a total of 280 trade fairs could or will take place again in the outgoing year 2022.

MOTEG GmbH, a specialist in the development and production of electric motors and auxiliaries based in Handewitt, Schleswig-Holstein, also looks back on three trade show participations at the end of the year and draws a positive conclusion, both for marketing and sales and in terms of the knowledge gained from meeting customers, interested parties, partners and competitors from its own and related industries.

The first event was the IAA Transportation in Hanover from September 20 to 25, 2022. As the first trade fair since Corona, MOTEG was able to welcome trade fair visitors here as an exhibitor with its own new stand, adapted to the new corporate design presented in January 2021. These came in abundance as a result: After a corona-related cancellation in 2020, the leading international trade fair for logistics, commercial vehicles, buses and the transport sector was not able to immediately follow up on the record figures from 2018, but with around 135,000 visitors, those responsible drew an all-round positive conclusion. Accordingly, the visitors to the MOTEG booth were also international. In more than 50 discussions with interested parties from Europe, North America, India, Asia and Africa, the employees on site identified potential for future projects.

With several first-time presentations, MOTEG was able to successfully use the IAA Transportation to demonstrate to interested parties the innovative further development of the company and its range of products since its last appearance at the trade show. The performance-enhanced eAir EVO1 screw compressor for articulated buses and trucks with trailers or semitrailers with increased air requirements, with its max. 15 bar and approx. 500l/min at 10 bars, as well as the extended electrohydraulics portfolio and the new liquid-cooled motor series of size 100 (20/30 kW) and the extension of the familiar size 80 (10 kW).

As a co-exhibitor of the successful manufacturer of clutches and brakes as well as drive electronics, motors/gearboxes and industrial control technology, KEB Italia S.r.l. from Milan, MOTEG contested the subsequent trade fair appearance at Next Mobility from 12. To 14 October 2022 in Milan. The focus here was on MOTEG stock units such as compressors and power steering pumps, which met with great interest particularly from Italian and other Southern European bus manufacturers.

Finally, MOTEG ended its own trade show year with the world’s most important trade show for the construction and mining machinery industry, bauma in Munich. MOTEG was represented here by sales staff from 24 until October 30. Among other things, an electrified concrete mixer and truck from a MOTEG customer were also exhibited at the trade show. In addition, the focus here was on the topic of emission-free construction sites, which was reflected, for example, in battery-electric cranes and construction machinery on display.

In addition to interesting and productive discussions with existing customers, partners and interested parties, as well as numerous substantial inquiries, some of which were already concrete, those responsible at MOTEG GmbH took home fundamental insights and impulses from all three trade fairs.

“The IAA in particular has once again impressively demonstrated to us that the future in the commercial vehicle sector is electric,” explains Dr. Siegfried Götz, CEO of MOTEG GmbH. “The question now is no longer whether, but when zero-emission vehicles will completely replace the diesel unit.”

In this regard, Dr. Götz believes his own company is well prepared for the near and medium-term future.

“The diverse feedback and the overall impressive interest in our electric motors and auxiliary units have convinced us that we have set our priorities correctly and motivates us to consistently continue along the path we have chosen.”

During the 9th Elektromobilproduktionstage (EPT) on 26^th and 27^th of October our Director eMobility was giving in speech with the topic “Optimization of auxiliaries for electric utility vehicles and On-Demand Control of electric air compressor and power-steering pump” on invitation of the RWTH Aachen.

The speech focused on the special technical demands on electric air compressors and power-steering pumps for use in electric busses and trucks and how these have been considered during the development of the MOTEG current auxiliaries for electric commercial vehicles.

An additional topic was the ON-Demand-Control of electric power-steering pumps and air compressors for the braking and suspension system during daily operation of electric utility vehicles. Based on the MOTEG patented auxiliary software and algorithms the advantages of “smart auxiliary control”  in regard to noise reduction, energy- and cost savings were presented and discussed. The original presentation slides (German only) can be downloaded here: