With fuel and emissions benefits, the new regenerative braking-powered UltraBoost ST is on display in Britain
French technology company Adgero has unveiled what it describes as the world’s first operational energy-saving, hybrid electric system for road transport in the UK this week.
On display at Britain’s Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham, the innovation is a curtainsider semi-trailer featuring a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) that aims to cut fuel consumption and carbon emissions by up to 25 per cent.
According to the company, the regenerative braking-powered UltraBoost ST “consists of an electrically driven axle mounted under the semi-trailer, powered by a bank of ultracapacitors, and controlled by intelligent management software that automatically controls regenerative braking and acceleration boost.”
“The UltraBoost ST uses a compact and lightweight YASA motor to recover kinetic energy, otherwise lost as heat during braking, and stores it in high-power graphene-based ultracapacitors from European manufacturer Skeleton Technologies.”
The technology was announced last year, when Adgero and Skeleton Technologies confirmed they had partnered together, but this week marks the first time it has been on public display.
Adgero president Mack Murray says the solution, mounted on a 13.6m Eddie Stobart trailer by European company SDC Trailers for the event, has huge potential because it can be added to existing and new trailer fleets.
“Because our hybrid system can be easily and economically retrofitted to existing fleets, voluntary fleet-based implementation could have an immediate and meaningful impact on fleet costs and vehicle emissions within a very short timeframe,” he says.
“Road haulage accounts for over a fifth of the EU’s total CO2 emissions, so fuel efficient solutions are crucial.
“Unveiling the world’s first operational hybrid electric system for road transport at Britain’s biggest commercial vehicle show has taken a real collaboration between leading industry players and we’re now looking forward to the next phase of road testing in coming weeks.”
The relationship between Adgero and Skeleton Technologies has also been strengthened with the companies signing a €3.5 million (A$6.7m) distribution agreement to ensure Skeleton Technologies’ modules appear in the UltraBoost ST system going forward.