RANGE ENERGY’S ELECTRIC TRAILER COULD REDEFINE CARGO HAULING

Equipping the trailer with its own electric motors and battery can improve a semi-truck’s performance and efficiency.

Range Energy, a start-up specializing in powered trailers for the trucking industry, debuted its 53-foot full-scale electric trailer, RA-01, at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo earlier this month. The RA-01 is designed for various purposes, including yard operations and reducing the load on a semi-truck’s diesel engine while hauling cargo, according to the company.

Several manufacturers, including Daimler, Freightliner, Tesla, and Volvo, among others, have zero-emissions tractor offerings in their portfolio. But electric trailers are relatively new, and Range Energy estimates that the trailers’ ability to move by themselves can improve the tractors’ overall performance.

Potential Benefits

Eletrek tested a smaller prototype version, which you can see in the video above. With the power switched off, the trailer doesn’t move because of its sheer heft. But with electrical assistance switched on, the prototype moves simply with an arm’s strength.

With the trailer’s ability to produce its own torque, Range Energy estimates a 41 percent reduction in diesel expenditure without additional operational costs. The potential advantages include easier maneuverability around tighter spaces, faster acceleration, and improved cargo hauling, especially on gradients.

Adding control to the rear axle might also enhance stability and offer improved protection against jackknifing. Moreover, the trailer’s regenerative braking is likely to reduce brake fade and reduce the truck’s fuel consumption.

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Possible Drawbacks

Range Energy’s trailer tips scale at 4,000 pounds, which could eat into a Class 8 semi’s gross vehicle weight of 80,000 pounds. By regulation, electric semi-trucks are permitted additional 2,000 pounds of payload capacity. But Range Energy’s product is a trailer and not a truck, so it doesn’t qualify for the additional allowance.

The powered trailer is not on sale yet, and we don’t know its pricing, which might impact its viability. However, it’s too early to draw any conclusions on its real-world impact. Continue watching this space for updates, and let us know in the comments what you think of Range Energy’s RA-01.

Source: Range Energy via Electrek

2023-05-28T10:34:42Z dg43tfdfdgfd