The student council of Physics and Mathematics invites to the summer festivity of the faculty 8 on Thursday 16.07.2026
4 pm, in lecture hall V57.01
"How physics can help to fight global warming - electrifying Heavy-Duty Transport" – Festive Lecture by Ulrich Zimmer, Chief Operating Officer ElringKlinger AG (starting in July 2026), Dettingen / Erms, Germany
Ulrich Zimmer holds a diploma in Physics from the University of Tübingen and brings nearly three decades of technical and leadership experience to the automotive transportation industry.
From July 1st 2026 onwards, he is taken over the position as COO of ElringKlinger AG, a leading TIER1 supplier to the automotive industry and other diversified business areas as for example plastics and alternative drive technologies. ElringKlinger, based in Dettingen / Erms, initiated already 20 years ago first steps into transformation towards alternative driveline technologies such as batteries and hydrogen / fuel cell technologies.
Before that Zimmer has served as Senior Vice President of TRATON Group R&D where he was leading the TRATON Group’s work on Battery & Charging technologies for the next generation of electric commercial vehicles. In this role, he is responsible for advancing key technologies that support the transition to sustainable and decarbonized transport solutions. Traton SE is bundling the activities of Volkswagen Group in the field of Commercial Vehicles and overseas iconic brands as Scania and MAN as well as International Motors in the US as well as Volkswagen Truck & Bus in Latin America.
From 2017 until 2023 Zimmer was responsible for the global Powertrain production of MAN Truck & Bus SE, building up a truly global production network for Traton’s first global 13 liter Diesel engine platform, but also initiating transformation by starting volume production of high voltage traction batteries for MAN Trucks and Buses.
Before joining MAN, he was 16 years with Mercedes-Benz and Daimler Trucks in various positions around Manufacturing Engineering, Production, R&D as well as Product Management.
With his background across powertrain development, industrialization, and strategic R&D leadership, Ulrich Zimmer offers deep insight into the technological and organizational transformation required to scale new technologies up to efficiency and cost competitiveness.
In his keynote speech “How physics can help to fight global warming - electrifying Heavy-Duty Transport” he firstly covers why decarbonization of heavy-duty transport is only economically possible by focusing on BEV whereas hydrogen technologies only serve as complimentary technology. Secondly he will talk about what the electrification of a global truck portfolio sets a requirements on modularity and flexibility when it comes to technical designs as well future development directions in battery technology. In the third part of the presentation boundary conditions are addressed when it comes to megawatt charging technology as well as infrastructure requirements to make this transformation to carbon free transportation successful.
from 5:30 pm (in the outdoor area – University Center, between Pfaffenwaldring 53 and Universitätsstraße 38)
the traditional summer party of the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics will take place and the students of mathematics and physics will present the lecturer awards.
Look forward to grilled food, refreshing drinks, live music by Gzäls, an entertaining student-led program featuring a students-versus-lecturers showdown, and a pub quiz to round off the evening.
All members, alumni and friends of the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics are invited.
