Future Truck Position Paper: 2022-2 — Trailer Energy Harvesting: Regenerative Braking Systems For Trailer Applications

ABSTRACT
Future electric vehicles (EVs) in commercial applications will need to be highly efficient to overcome current industry challenges of long operating hours and distances. Regenerative braking — used already in electrified straight trucks and tractors — has great potential to effectively capture otherwise wasted energy in trailer applications, but has yet not been so pursued. ATA’s Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) recommends various actions be taken to maximize benefits, reduce potential risks and eliminate any safety issues associated with these technologies such that a realistic return on investment (ROI) can be achieved within applicable vocations. These goals and actions include: (1) researching and developing safe, compatible, maintenance-friendly and robust systems; (2) achieving CO2 and other emission reductions; (3) investigating all-electric trailer refrigeration unit (eTRU) applications and usages; (4) developing effective means of storing and delivering harvested energy; (5) achieving effective power control; and (6) developing data communication and analytics to enable integration of automated driver assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving systems (ADS) in trailers. Furthermore, as these technologies emerge, TMC's various Study Groups should develop Recommended Practices (RPs) to facilitiate adoption of regenerative braking systems for trailers.