Self-Powered Trailers Promise Leaner Freight Runs

Post by olyjohn » Mon, Jul 20, 2026, 2:15 PM UTC

crote wrote: post #15

sandworm101 wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Charging time. A truck/driver doesnt remain stopped. It drops a trailer and picks up another. And a truck needs charging on the open road where there just are not any charging stations. But a trailer remains parked at a loading bay for hours, a commercial facility where installing chargers makes sense. A trailer therefore has more oppertunity to charge than a truck. And if a company wanted to, parking a trailer to le…

But that's the thing: you already have to pay a driver to sit around! In Europe there's (simplified) a mandatory 45-minute rest break after 4.5 hours of driving. Similarly, there's a mandatory 11-hour rest period after the daily maximum of 10 hours of driving. And it is very strictly enforced, with every commercial truck having been equipped with a sealed and certified data logger, plenty of random checks by traffic…

Post by ErroneousBosh » Mon, Jul 20, 2026, 5:37 PM UTC

nradov wrote: post #58

ErroneousBosh wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> and you can pull a huge one with ANY car, you don’t need truck, just modified mirrors So pretty much like everywhere outside the US? Here in the UK it's not uncommon to pull a 1500kg caravan with a bog standard Ford Focus, without any problems at all, and well over two tonnes on a twin-axle one with something like a Volvo V60. People come from all over Europe to holiday here with their caravans, and are towing them…

European caravan trailers are generally designed with a much lower tongue weight, like only 4%. This reduces strain on the tow vehicle at the cost of reduced stability. It is ridiculously dangerous to tow such a trailer at full "Autobahn speeds". You might be able to get away with it on a straight road if nothing goes wrong but a sudden maneuver or even a strong gust of wind can lead to uncontrolled oscillation and a…

Post by jazzyjackson » Tue, Jul 21, 2026, 12:36 AM UTC

torpfactory wrote: post #46

clintonbush wrote: post #43

It'd be nice if researchers compared the impact on environment of disposing of the batteries (toxic metals, chemicals, other components) with the impact on the environment of the truck burning fossil fuels. In the end, what's the net benefit? Maybe it's great, I don't know. I feel we're getting a very one-sided assessment, though.

These are old talking points from the fossil fuel industry. The batteries themselves will be recycled to recover their valuable minerals. The process will certainly require care to avoid localized pollution. Compare that with burning fossil fuels- baked into their design is emission of heat trapping gasses which systemically affect the entire planet. It’s clear we need to stop burning fossil fuels lest we overheat th…

Post by eru » Tue, Jul 21, 2026, 5:54 AM UTC

Dreami wrote: post #20

crote wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But that's the thing: you already have to pay a driver to sit around! In Europe there's (simplified) a mandatory 45-minute rest break after 4.5 hours of driving. Similarly, there's a mandatory 11-hour rest period after the daily maximum of 10 hours of driving. And it is very strictly enforced, with every commercial truck having been equipped with a sealed and certified data logger, plenty of random checks by traffic…

At least from the truckers I watch on YouTube from Germany, there is already a shortage of rest stops for trucks. Sometimes you can see them even in the entrance of the rest stops, parked in a dangerous spot. If they all have to charge, then that becomes a problem, because they can’t find a space even „creatively“. Not saying that electric trucks are bad, just one more problem to solve

Post by jimnotgym » Tue, Jul 21, 2026, 4:11 PM UTC

bluGill wrote: post #57

jimnotgym wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I suppose the trailer has a lot of space for solar panels on top, which the tractor does not. But those could be connected to the tractor rather than the trailer. Of course

Last time I ran the numbers, in ideal situations a truck/trailer could generate enough power from solar alone to drive on the highway. Ideal means the truck is already at speed, it is towing multiple trailers (length is only legal in a few states), they are used the most efficient solar panels made (significantly better than the mass produced panels most people are putting on their house - at a massive increase in co…