Axle and suspension manufacturer BPW has showcased a range of new trailer innovations at the IAA show
By Matt Wood, reporting from Hanover | September 20, 2012
Axle and suspension manufacturer BPW has showcased a range of new trailer innovations at the IAA show in Hanover, Germany.
The main attention grabber was the Eco-vision E, which has an axle-mounted energy recovery system integrated into the wheel hub.
Developed in conjunction with the University of Bremen, the system harnesses energy generated by the trailer wheel. It can be used to make a trailer energy self sufficient, powering lighting and generating air for the braking system.
There’s even potential in the future for recovered power to be used to assist refrigeration units in maintaining temperature and reducing refrigeration unit run times. When used in conjunction with BPW’s lightweight axle, the system adds only 20kg per axle to the trailer tare weight.
Energy recovery is considered possible when the vehicle is coasting, allowing the hub generators to recover previously wasted energy. At present, the system can recover 9kWh of energy.
BPW has also moved to reduce maintenance issues associated with steerable trailer axles by introducing the Eco-turn, a virtually maintenance free steel-rubber-steel bush unit with no greasing required.
It gives the Eco-turn similar service intervals to standard axle configurations. BPW projects that fuel savings on self-steering trailer axles can be in the vicinity of 1,000 litres per 100,000km. Adding to this, BPW expects that tyre life can be increased by as much as four times.
BPW’s list of new innovations launched at the IAA show includes a new modular brake rotor system, which allows for brake rotor changes to be done in just minutes without the need to remove brake callipers.
Furthermore, BPW is moving into trailer telemetry by using a system called Eco-tronic E-control. The system can monitor trailer data and transmit the information back to a central workshop location. This can include tyre pressure monitoring, temperature monitoring and service related issues.
BPW says the system has been designed to co-exist with telemetry systems used by other manufacturers, making it possible for the system to be integrated into a customer’s existing system.