Kraker Trailers, a Dutch moving-floor trailer manufacturer, claims that a prototype e-axle hybrid it has created has the potential to offer 20% fuel savings. As orginally reported in Commercial Motor, the E-Force operates the moving-floor with a 42kW battery supplied by Super B.
According to Rick Gijsberts, owner of the Dutch electronics business Gocontroll, which collaborated with Kraker to develop the E-Force, the design does not require a tractor unit with a power take-off (PTO) to operate. The prototype is now being tested extensively, and once done, the E-Force will be commercially available. Kraker Trailers, a Dutch moving-floor trailer manufacturer, claims that a prototype e-axle hybrid it has created has the potential to save 20% on fuel.
“The braking energy captured is stored in the battery, which is then used to power the centre axle during acceleration,” he said. “It results in fuel savings of 10-20%. Furthermore, less CO2 is released.”
He continued: “E-Force can drive both an axle and the hydro pump through smart operation of the double-coupling on the electric motor. The electric motor can be disconnected from the shaft when it is not in use. This significantly reduces resistance.”
Each discharge uses 5% of the battery charge, and the kerbweight is comparable to the weight of a truck-trailer combination equipped with an oil reserve hydraulic pump.
The company added that its development is part of the firm’s commitment to meet the goals set out in the Paris Agreement. “It is expected that CO2 emissions will be taxed by the government in the future. This is one of the reasons why it is becoming ever more important for carriers to drive as cleanly as possible,” he explained.
