Regen-electric braking for trailer tandems?

weight would also be a killer, for a motor/gen to be powerfull enough to actually do any work it would have to be well over 100-150lb and the battery pack along with it would prob be anther 150lb

 

I know weight has a big factor in that. I saw a few years ago a system from down under that had a rubber mat mounted on the trailer right in front on the last duels. If a truck lost it's brakes the driver could pull the handle and the rubber mat would unwind going under the tires and the tires would then slide on the mat. It was at a truck show and they had movies of the system working but it added an addition 1100lbs to the gross.

 

Its prob not going to happen anytime soon. The size of the components would be too big and heavy and then there is the problem of batts on the trailer. There wouldnt be enough braking to charge the batts sufficiently for many launch assists. You would have to run huge power cables from the tractor to keep the trailer batts charged enough.

 

You would want drag on that trailer to create stability = no power from the rear on uphills. Having a generator (hybrid) on the engine would be easier and make more sense and could act as a jake varying the flux.

= need many deep cell batteries that can take a quick charge and give a quick charge. Batteries would be under the tandem truck axels or behind the cab since the front is already at 12,000 with full fuel + the hybrid extra weight.

For braking alone the trailer generators would work. Maybe used for a reefer hybrid system (reefers burn fuel) + cab electricity (cut down on idle time, plus many states have a no-idle policy)

Reefer guys run lighter, but the reefer parts weight 1-2k? Heavier to begin with.

 

The ArvinMeritor hybrid system is said to weigh 1K. -I would look into that.

 

I've been toying with the idea of a regen system on the tractor to aid in starting from a stop. Instead of using batteries and an electric motor use a wound spring that winds/tensions itself under braking and has a reverse gearing to unwind when starting from a stop. Would be great for idling in traffic as the motor could shut off using only spring pressure to move the truck at slow speeds just driving like a regular diesel with the clutch etc. The idea obviously has it's problems though.

 

I like the idea. It would be nice to see a Tractor-Trailer combo hybred unit with a respectable bank of batteries mounted under the trailer between the landing gear and rear axles. That is alot of dead space. You could have electrical booster motors/generators for the trailer and main electrical cables going to the truck. Nice idea, but like the other said, the weight is the killer to the entire idea.

 

Paccar has Hybrid trucks that work like what you are describing. To put that stuff on a trailer would not be cost effective. First you would need drive axles on the trailer which would add weight. Then you would need a battery system to capture and hold that energy. More weight with that too. Then if you were to use it going up a hill it would not last long. You would need a big generator to power a system that could push a truck up a hill. The last system that could do what you said that I personally saw had a V12 Cummins in it. Then again the trailer had a manufature date of 1972 on it. I would think that the integrated unit on the trucks would be much more effect than trying to put it on a trailer with the technology that we have today. MAybe in 5 years it would be more realiastic.