INTELLIGENT TRAILERS

Today's trailer customers enjoy access to a complete range of integrated solutions, writes Ashish Bhatia.

- Ashish Bhatia.

Globally, the ambitious mission is to spearhead clean, safe, and comfortable mobility. Regardless of the propulsion system, every gram of CO2 that the industry can avoid is a step towards a cleaner future.

Earlier this year, the ZF emobility kit showcased central drives, CeTrax 2 and CeTrax 2 dual besides the AxTrax 2, AxTrax 2 dual and the AxTrax 2 LF for zero emissions CVs. Of these, the AxTrax 2 can be retrofitted to an ICE-powered truck-trailer combination. This concept can convert the ICE combination to a hybrid. Awaiting regulatory approval, it is claimed to offer a 16 per cent fuel saving that goes up to 40 per cent when the plug-in variant is used. The electric trailer can further also extend the range of an electric vehicle.

In another demonstration, a truck with a trailer combination used radar to avoid blind spots for increased driver safety. It aids in eliminating the fear of lane changes. Using the radar in combination with a camera derived from the passenger car segment, ZF Group demonstrated at the track among the suite of solutions to aid the compliance with EU General Safety Regulations (GSR II) particularly stringent for commercial vehicles. The eWorX electric Power Take-Off (PTO) system made a cakewalk by tipping over the load body of the Mercedes Actros dump semi-trailer in an operation using just a joystick. It is a big improvement over PTOs being coupled to the engine or transmissions in ICE vehicles. It also reduces noise and emissions suited to cities and residential areas. eWorX includes suitable power electronics, control units and software packages tailored to the respective application. The seamless connection to the CAN bus allows eWorX to be integrated into the vehicle’s battery and energy management. The option of controlling such heavy-duty machines from outside the driver’s cabin, using a smartphone or tablet is a welcome innovation.