{"id":2578,"date":"2020-12-27T20:25:52","date_gmt":"2020-12-27T20:25:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quicktransportsolutions.com\/blog\/?p=2578"},"modified":"2020-12-27T20:25:53","modified_gmt":"2020-12-27T20:25:53","slug":"trailers-evolve-into-free-energy-producers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quicktransportsolutions.com\/blog\/trailers-evolve-into-free-energy-producers\/","title":{"rendered":"Trailers Evolve into Free Energy Producers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Have you heard? With all the cutting-edge technology invading the trucking and transportation sectors, it wouldn\u2019t be long before trailers became their own self-sustaining power source. Trailer OEMs are hard at work figuring out how to get the most out of their trailer configurations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">                                  <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7475595057439740\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- QTSTrkBlogRsp -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7475595057439740\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"9546273301\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script>       <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One trailer manufacturer has developed a refrigeration\nsystem that replaces the diesel tank with swappable battery modules that can be\ncharged by capturing kinetic energy from the wheels and transferring that\nenergy to the refrigeration module. Do we live in the 21<sup>st<\/sup> century,\nor what? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Certainly, most of the discussion around electrification of\ntractor trailers has centered around the rigs themselves. Tractor units have\nbeen evolving at leaps and bounds, with OEMs increasingly finding unique ways\nto electrify their vehicles. And with states like California pushing the\nindustry to make change, it is no surprise that manufacturers are answering the\ncall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Trailer Takes Center Stage<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, tractors are not the only factor in discussion. Some\ncompanies feel they can develop the trailer to play a more important role in\nsustainable transportation. And this could be through more than just\naerodynamic add-ons. While aerodynamic accessories have come a long way, there\nis plenty more trailer real estate to use for sustainable goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As we discussed earlier, a lot of the conversation right now\nis how to capture wasted kinetic energy to power reefer units. The company that\nis pioneering this methodology for green efforts, but it also eliminates the\naverage trailer wright on a reefer trailer by nearly 1,200 pounds. This is no\nsmall number. Removing that kind of weight can have a big impact on fuel\neconomy. And for trucking companies using this technology on an electric or\nhydrogen-powered truck, you have net zero emissions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The key innovation in this type of technology is the use of\nalternators. Alternating devices can be attached to disc brakes on the trailer.\nMuch like the way Priuses use disc braking energy for power, a convertor catches\nthe energy and stores it in the battery for on-demand energy. This all happens\nwithin a closed system inside the trailer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Using these technologies also allows OEMs to make use of old\nor discarded batteries. Since the battery units are in the trailer, second-life\nbatteries are an easy option. This eliminates another environmental problem of\nhow to deal with battery waste. Giving them this kind of second life helps keep\nthe system closed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meet the eTrailer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Advanced trailer electrification technologies are important\nat the point of delivery. Consider that there is generally a shortage of cold\nstorage space at grocery stores. It is not uncommon for reefer trucks to be\nwaiting for hours in a lot, burning a lot of diesel fuel as they sit idle\nkeeping things cold. Not only is this a fuel economy problem, it is a noise,\nhealth, and environmental problem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another country addressing these problems is Germany by\npartnering with a Chinese battery maker on what they are officially dubbing an\n\u201ceTrailer.\u201d The eTrailer utilizes an electric drive train that replaces one of\nthe trailer\u2019s standard axles with an electric axle. When used in combination\nwith a diesel rig, the system creates an electric plug-in hybrid loop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The company developing this system states that when used\nwith adaptive aerodynamics and a software-based intelligent control for the\nelectric auxiliary drive, trucking companies using the system could see fuel\nsavings of up to 40% for each unit using the system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The advanced eTrailer is designed to respond to specific truck driver behaviors and patterns. It is coupled to the tracker using an integrated electric drive train and transmission system. The entire system can manage energy resources intelligently, using machine learning, as the truck driver completes their route. Systems like these both lower operating costs and improve fleet efficiency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">                                  <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7475595057439740\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- QTSTrkBlogRsp -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7475595057439740\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"9546273301\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script>       <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now the company is developing an enhanced, 300 kWh lithium\niron phosphate battery with cell to pack technology. This is seriously\nfuturistic stuff that could have a significant impact on emissions and overall\nfuel usage across a fleet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Say Hello to the EHub<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Seems like every new advance in just about every industry\nhas an \u201ce\u201d at the beginning of its name! Our latest example is the EHub for\ntrailers, which is a motor\/generator package mounted at the wheel-end within\nthe space between the axle spindle and brake shoes. The company behind this\nsetup deftly used existing space instead of requiring tractor design changes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The EHub system can generate power directly from the\nrotation of the wheels, whether on regional or urban delivery routes. The\nsystem can supply enough power to the reefer unit throughout the day. And when\nthe battery is at full charge, the system can be used to power auxiliary\nsystems on the trailer, such as lighting or adaptive aerodynamic systems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even better, battery-powered trailer solutions are\npractically noiseless. This creates a lot of possibilities for trucking\ncompanies delivering at times of night where noise restrictions come into play.\nIntegrated controls built into the system allow for a regenerative braking or\npropulsion assist mode. This enables the system to make use of all the power\ncaptured throughout the day and further optimize fuel savings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Power of Solar<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We have talked before about how <a href=\"https:\/\/quicktransportsolutions.com\/blog\/trailer-shortages-and-solar-panels-take-center-stage\/\">solar\nis being utilized in trailers<\/a>. This is an ongoing trend. Companies are\ngetting in on the solar game, with one developing a trailer entirely covered in\nsolar cells. The energy harvested from the solar cells turns the rig into a\nplug-in hybrid truck. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Sweden, where the setup is being tested, trucks are\nreturning an average fuel savings of 5 to 10%. In Sweden, there is enough\nsunlight from spring to autumn to generate energy. And even in the summer, when\nthe sun is weaker, there is enough energy to provide a significant boost when\nthese trailers are used. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Spain, where the sun is plentiful, test companies are\nseeing savings of 10 to 20%. Unlike Sweden, southern Spain has 80 more hours of\nsunlight, which provides an excellent training ground for technologies of this\ntype. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Manufacturing industries have a lot of experience designing\nsolar cell concepts for boats and caravans, but usually only as reefer power\nsources and cookers, but not the actual powertrain. With the latest advances in\ntechnology, that paradigm is changing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Trucks utilizing the novel solar concept being tested in\nSweden and Spain are running 18-meter long solar cell trailers with a total\narea along each side of 140 square meters. It is expected that the trailers\nbeing tested in Sweden will provide up to 14,000 kWh of power for their big\nrigs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fortunately, this test will provide a lot of answers to\nother OEMs who want to develop these kinds of technologies. Research projects\nlike these provide data on whether a trailer can feed electricity directly into\nthe grid when fully charged and the truck is parked. Integrations like this\ninto existing power grids will be critical to get these systems off the ground\nand adopted by large, medium, and small trucking companies alike. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Fancy New Axle Configurations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One part of the tractor trailer that seemed destined to\nnever change until the age of electrification was the powertrain. Drive axles\nhave remained largely unchanged for a very long time. But now, thanks to new\nentrants into the market, intelligent electric axles represent a new front in\nthe sustainability push for big rigs and trailers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Intelligent electric axles are designed to replace what are now called \u201cpassive\u201d axles on tandem trailer setups. By creating an intelligent axle setup, you essentially turn your tractor-trailer combo into a hybrid setup. This can save up to 20% on average fuel costs, according to the companies developing these products. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">                                  <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7475595057439740\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- QTSTrkBlogRsp -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7475595057439740\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"9546273301\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">      <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Between electrified hybrid drivetrains, solar, and other\ninnovations, expect to see the standard big rig setup continue to evolve. As we\nmove towards an automated and greener future. OEMs and trucking companies will\nneed to partner up to ensure sustainability goals are met while trucking\ncompanies still get the performance and capabilities they need out of their big\nrigs. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Have you heard? With all the cutting-edge technology invading the trucking and transportation sectors, it wouldn\u2019t be long before trailers became their own self-sustaining power source. Trailer OEMs are hard at work figuring out how to get the most out of their trailer configurations. One trailer manufacturer has developed a refrigeration system that replaces the &#8230; <a title=\"Trailers Evolve into Free Energy Producers\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/quicktransportsolutions.com\/blog\/trailers-evolve-into-free-energy-producers\/\">Read more<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Trailers Evolve into Free Energy Producers<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v16.6 (Yoast SEO v18.4.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Trailers Evolve into Free Energy Producers - Quick Transport Solutions Trucking Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/quicktransportsolutions.com\/blog\/trailers-evolve-into-free-energy-producers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Trailers Evolve into Free Energy Producers\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Have you heard? 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With all the cutting-edge technology invading the trucking and transportation sectors, it wouldn\u2019t be long before trailers became their own self-sustaining power source. Trailer OEMs are hard at work figuring out how to get the most out of their trailer configurations. One trailer manufacturer has developed a refrigeration system that replaces the ... 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