Zero Emissions capable Ready for Autonomous Urban Deliveries (ZERAUD)

It is universally recognised that the internal combustion engine is responsible for a great many of the air quality issues that developed countries have to face. It is also widely accepted that the ICE will continue to provide a large proportion of the traction requirements of long distance haulage and regional distribution for several years to come. The challenge for today's transport and logistics operations is how to comply with Ultra Low Emissions Zone requirements without further trans-shipment of goods from efficient medium to high volume vehicles and trailers into small volume Ultra Low Emissions Vehicles for urban distribution.

Project ZERAUD will add an electric drive axle to a conventional diesel driven truck, storing the electrical energy on the trailer in the space that is often left empty at the front of the lower deck of a double deck trailer. Urban step frame double deck trailers are already relatively expensive (compared to the full length alternative). Project ZERAUD intends to offer an alternative to the high cost of a typical low floor independent suspension (typically £10-12000 more than a pair of standard axles) by redesigning either the axle or the chassis frame to allow sufficient wheel movement without needing independent wheel ends. This will help to offset the cost of the hybridisation.

Because ZERAUD will retain the diesel engine for journeys between distribution centres and Ultra Low Emissions Zones, the suspension will make use of functions already available within electronic suspension controls to reduce aerodynamic drag at speeds above 40mph (65km/h). It is believed that this function can save 1-2% on fuel consumption and therefore reduce exhaust emissions by a similar proportion.

By treating the combination of truck and trailer as a whole, rather than separate units, there are design benefits that can be taken advantage of to make optimal use of space that is not available if the tractor unit is treated separately. Similarly, the approach will allow the individual elements to be used as conventional tractor / trailer which, whilst not gaining the ZE benefit, does help maximise versatility of the fleet and reduce emissions through the reduced drag of the trailer.