A consortium of six Dutch organizations has developed and built an electric powertrain for trailers under the project name yDrive (pronounced Why Drive) and will soon start testing and demonstrating it. Equipping trailers with this technology transforms any fuel truck into a hybrid combination, while for electric trucks, it increases range. yDrive features regenerative braking, which recharges a battery pack while decelerating or driving downhill. When accelerating, emission-free power-assist kicks in.
Martin van Willigen, Founder and Managing Director at Econogy and initiator of yDrive points out that heavy commercial vehicles are responsible for more than 6% of total greenhouse gas emissions in Europe. “To meet Europe’s ambitious goal of Net Zero by 2050, heavy commercial vehicles must reduce their carbon footprint by 45% this decade and as much as 90% by 2040 – largely by going electric.”
However, the growth of electric freight transport is slower than expected. Only 10% of the European truck fleet is expected to be electric by 2030, and only 50% by 2040. yDrive is there to fill this gap. Van Willigen says: “By harnessing the untapped potential of trailers, we are determined to make Europe’s ambitious green transport agenda a reality.” A recent simulation study conducted by the prestigious Dutch research institute TNO revealed the remarkable potential of our technology. A three-axle trailer equipped with our electric powertrain can save up to 40% fuel during urban and regional distribution.
Robust e-axle
“Our e-axle is a masterpiece that combines proven concepts from the truck and trailer industry, taking advantage of their existing economies of scale,” he adds. “The transverse and integrated e-motor remains within the peripheral of the trailer air suspension, allowing seamless integration into the trailer chassis. The e-axle accommodates industry-standard brakes and air suspension so that the other trailer axles can remain standard.”
Rob van Gils, Managing Director at DLS-Drive Line Systems, says a so-called LTO (Lithium Titanium Oxide) battery chemistry was chosen. “This chemistry makes it possible to discharge the battery very quickly when the vehicle demands maximum energy and recharge ultra-fast during the regeneration process when braking. Because of the many braking movements, this allows us to work with a tiny battery for urban and regional distribution. Another advantage is the ultra-long service life with over 20,000 cycles, exceeding the trailer’s life.”
Econogy is the leader of a consortium of six organizations developing an electric powertrain for trailers. Other partners include TNO, RAI Association, THT New Cool, V-Tron, and DLS-Drive Line Systems. The project is co-financed by Flevoland Province and the DKTI-Transport scheme of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
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