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KYBURZ in Fulda: Frieder Herb and Renata Franz are demonstrating ways to improve route planning efficiency. A DXP with a solar roof is on display at the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne until the end of May as part of the ‘Tour de Sol’ exhibition. Internally, Philipp Stoll is presenting the Readiness Level System. Practical tests of the eRod Race II are also underway. The employee scheme for building your own 2ndLife vehicle runs until the end of June.

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The GIS Campus II event, held on 21 and 22 April 2026 in Hünfeld near Fulda, offered practical insights into the future of publishing logistics. The focus was on route planning and the optimal choice of transport.

Dr Frieder Herb from KYBURZ demonstrated how vehicles can make the morning newspaper delivery process more efficient. In doing so, he presented his potential analysis tool, which has been validated using real-world data. A key example: previously, two newspaper delivery staff would deliver the newspapers on foot in 120 minutes. With a DXP and a 50% time saving, a single delivery staff member can deliver the same volume in 60 minutes. As the minimum hourly wage is higher than the rental cost of a DXP, the investment pays off from day one.

Frieder Herb also invited Michaela Butz from Südwest Presse Logistik to contribute to the presentation. She gave a practical account and confirmed that KYBURZ vehicles are light, stable and agile to drive, and save time during delivery. Participants were able to test the vehicles themselves on site, which further reinforced the impression: reliable, robust and ideal for narrow delivery areas.

GIS Campus II demonstrated how innovative vehicles deliver real efficiency gains in publishing logistics. A practical success and genuine added value for the industry.

Forty years ago, the Tour de Sol proved that solar-powered and electric vehicles work not only in the south but also in the northern Alpine region. A special exhibition at the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne pays tribute to the Tour de Sol.

Original vehicles from the Tour de Sol form a central part of the exhibition. Martin Kyburz’s Cheetah is also on display. The current KYBURZ DXP with a solar roof demonstrates that the pioneering technology of that time is now ready for series production.

The special exhibition ‘40 Years of the Tour de Sol’ runs until the end of May 2026. Visit now!

For the first time, KYBURZ has published a “Social Responsibility and Sustainability Report” for the past year, 2025. The report is based on the principles of the “UN Global Compact”.

In the area of sustainability, initial figures following the move to Embrach paint an optimistic picture. The report covering the whole of 2026, due in a year’s time, will then definitively demonstrate the efforts that are paying off in the new building.

The report can be downloaded and read via the link below:

During a sales presentation, Dr Philipp Stoll introduced the team to the system known as Readiness Levels (FRL – Vehicle Readiness Levels). The aim of this model is to clearly structure development projects and transparently demonstrate where a product stands in the development process.

The current ePedelec 4.0 project, which is currently at Readiness Level 1, served as an example. At this early stage, the product does not yet physically exist. However, a concept, initial calculations, visualisations and basic specifications are already available. It is also possible to estimate the development time and production costs. A 3D-printed model stands in the middle of the table.

This is precisely where sales come into play: at this stage, it is essential to clarify whether a suitable market exists and whether enough customers can be attracted to the planned product. This ensures at an early stage that development is specifically geared towards real needs.

KYBURZ’s Readiness Level model is based on the so-called Technology Readiness Levels (TRL), which were developed by NASA in the 1970s. Whilst NASA works with nine levels, KYBURZ uses a deliberately simplified system with seven levels.

The classification is as follows:

• Stage 1: Concept and fundamentals – description, calculations and initial representations
• Stages 2–3: Functional prototype – initial technical solutions, initially without, later with design requirements
• Stage 4: Prototype – a drivable vehicle that can be tested under real-world conditions
• Stages 5–6: Pre-series – near-production vehicles that can already be manufactured and deployed
• Stage 7: Series – fully production-ready with all documentation, approvals and stable processes in production, sales and service

As can also be seen in the illustration, the early phases (Stages 1–3) take place mainly in-house. From Stage 4 onwards, initial tests outside the company become possible, and as maturity increases, the focus shifts towards the market and series production.

The model establishes a common language between development, sales and service. It helps to clarify expectations, set priorities and drive projects forward in a targeted manner.

During a test drive around Embrach and the Zurich Unterland, Thomas Baumann from the electronics team put the eRod Race II through its paces in real-world conditions.

The driving dynamics were particularly impressive: the eRod Race II accelerates instantly, responds nimbly and offers precise road holding. The ride comfort was also impressive – even longer journeys remain comfortable. Features such as Boost mode and Hill Hold offer additional benefits in everyday use and enhance the driving experience.

There is always room for optimisation when a vehicle is to be further improved – whether to make it faster, more efficient or more comfortable. To enable the development team to work on this in a targeted manner, they rely on feedback from test drives such as this.

Overall, the eRod Race II presents a promising package with clear strengths in its handling.