According to SDC head of engineering Jimmy Dorrian, SDC’s pioneering 13.6 metre KERS curtainsider – in Eddie Stobart livery – uses a hybrid system, comprising a bank of ultra-capacitors and an electrically-driven axle to capture energy loss and re-power the vehicle.
During braking, the motor becomes a generator, recovering kinetic energy and storing it in the ultra-capacitors. An intelligent management system tracks driver input, he says, to control the boost and regenerative braking provided by the trailer.
“Operator efficiency was the driving force behind the KERS trailer innovation,” comments Dorrian, explaining that ht enew trailer will be in trials with Eddie Stobart’s fleet directly after the CV Show.
“Our customers are always looking for ways to reduce their fuel consumption and overall footprint, especially in demanding applications such as heavy terrain or continuous urban transport,” he continues.
“A trailer solution that can reduce [CO2 emissions] by up to 25% will have significant benefits to both the operator and the environment.”
And he makes the point that beyond reducing fuel consumption, the regenerative braking system “significantly” reduces brake wear and associated maintenance costs.
Other SDC trailers at the CV Show will include: a 13.6 metre Boxvan manufactured using durable GRP ply; a 10.79 metre Owen’s Urban trailer with Tridec bar rear steer and Dhollandia tuckaway taillift; a 4.6 metre Hireco curtainsider; and 4.7 metre TIP tri-axle curtainsider.
The CV show opens on Tuesday 26 April in Halls 3a, 4 and 5 at the NEC in Birmingham and expects to attract close to 20,000 visitors over three days.