BPW receives award for energy recovery from trailer axles

Recovered energy can be used to power lighting and cooling systems, and even reduce fuel consumption.

BPW and the University of Bremen set out to determine how and when energy could be recovered from a trailer axle. Generators are installed in the hubs of the ECO Vision E ultralight GFRP axle. Energy could be recovered during breaking, engine retarding and when the vehicle was in coasting mode. This is made possible by installing generators in both hubs of the ultralight GRFP module from BPW.

The recovered energy initially supplies the electrical loads of the lighting systems, the electronic system and the compressed air system for the air suspension and brake system. Surplus energy is stored in a battery. The generators can supply as much as 9 kilowatt hours of surplus energy to power other functions such as cooling units. On average, the ECO Vision E can produce a continuous energy recovery of more than three kilowatt hours, which could be used to assist the engine to reduce fuel consumption. This will allow fuel savings of between 1 and 2%, resulting in significant long term savings.

The ECO Vision air suspension module reduces the weight of trailer running gear systems by 20%; from 400 kg to 320 kg (880 lb to 705 lb). The concept resulted in BPW winning the Components category of the Trailer Innovation Prize 2013.
Source: http://www.bpw.de/en/media/press.html