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Trailer manufacturers could make all trailers solar (panels on the roof of the trailer) and have a battery pack somewhere in the area a refer unit would sit. Th
by hourislate 6y ago
Trailer manufacturers could make all trailers solar (panels on the roof of the trailer) and have a battery pack somewhere in the area a refer unit would sit. This way you could power the refer if there was one or the the Truck if there was no refer unit and the Truck was electric. They become a energy storage unit while not in use (sitting in lots). I think this is what we'll see when there will be more Electric Semi's on the road.
- Erlich_Bachman 6y agoIn a fantasy world unrestricted by physics and market and costs and raw materials, - yes, they could.
- hourislate 6y agoWabash is already pivoting to special composites to lighten trailers for EV Tractors. I'm sure as new technology makes itself available they will start to think about solarizing their trailers. Right now they run their refers off of propane, switching to battery/electric would be a welcomed change. A trailer can spends days to weeks and even a month in a yard waiting for a tractor and could possibly charge a very large battery in that time. As a side note they could also add regenerative braking to the trailer axles.
- Erlich_Bachman 6y ago> A trailer can spends days to weeks and even a month in a yard waiting for a tractor Imagine what a similar investment in a stationary solar panel in that same yard would yield, a panel that will charge 100% of time.
- hourislate 6y ago>Imagine what a similar investment in a stationary solar panel in that same yard would yield, a panel that will charge 100% of time. That will have to be rolled out by the yards not the manufacturers of trailers. Trailers are leased as very few companies buy them.