Up-Featured Trailers for Future Logistics

"Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) account for around 17% of UK GHG emission from road transport and 21% of NOx emissions, while making up just 5% of vehicle miles and 2% of vehicles. Tackling HGV emissions is challenging because they consume large quantities of energy, are used for business-critical logistics functions by a risk averse customer base and are typically sold in much smaller volumes than passenger cars making it harder to recover expensive R&D investments in alternative powertrains.

To decarbonise an integrated approach is required incorporating new energy vectors, light-weighting and mileage reduction via increased connectivity, load consolidation between operators and incentives for customer behavioural change. Trailer technologies must evolve to accommodate this and increase the value that they add to logistics systems.

Currently, trailers have limited features focused around load carrying, loading/unloading operations and sometimes temperature maintenance. Advanced features are usually reserved for tractor units because of different product pricing and vendor capabilities between truck and trailer sectors. Emerging technologies around energy storage, connectivity and light-weighting could allow trailers to contribute to cost and emission reduction goals in a variety of ways. E.g. by enabling range extension through an energy store capable of exporting power to the tractor units or by exploiting connectivity and interoperability for real time route optimisation and consolidation operations.

The project's overall aim is to develop a concept that optimally utilises these technologies to maximise their impact. First we will capture the voice of the customer then deliver and assess the feasibility of an advanced trailer design with a leading body builder using an optimum mix of energy storage, light-weighting and connectivity technologies. The design will have benefitted from testing in a virtual test environment developed to mimic end user duty cycles. Finally, an exploitation and financing plan will be developed detailing how the design can be demonstrated in a representative environment and then industrialised through most appropriate business models. Flexible Power Systems (FPS) are an SME energy company who work with customers to optimise their energy usage across transport and stationary systems via technology deployment and asset management. Lawrence David (LD) are one of the UK's largest trailer builders with decades of commitment to innovation. Heriot Watt University (HWU) are one of the UK's leading research institutions with academics who specialise in logistics and co-lead the Centre for Sustainable Road Freight (SRF).


[][0]

[0]: https://flexpowerltd-my.sharepoint.com/personal/michael_ayres_flexpowerltd_com/Documents/Grant%20Projects/IDP14%20Bid/20171107IDP14V3MA.docx#_ftnref1"