A breakthrough hybrid truck system, based on technology honed in Formula One racing, will be trialled on UK delivery routes in the coming weeks, marking the first time a rigid lorry will be transformed into a hybrid using regenerative braking technology.
French technology leader Adgero has signed an agreement with fleet services company Fraikin to supply the company’s UltraBoost hybrid system, which it says delivers fuel savings, extra power and reduced emissions for rigid lorries.
Fraikin will supply the Iveco Euro 6 test vehicle equipped with Adgero’s Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) technology to the British division of an as-yet unnamed international logistics company for use on its urban UK delivery routes, including Greater London.
The truck will also run on compressed natural gas (CNG), with a conversion carried out by Southampton-based Alternatech.
Mack Murray, Adgero’s president, said, “We are proud to partner with Fraikin and Alternatech to offer the first rigid lorry application of our technology to a market leader in logistics. Our solution will help demonstrate the efficiencies that companies can realise through reduced fuel consumption and greater power.
“Vehicle emissions are a major concern for London and Adgero is proud to be working on part of the solution. We look forward to exploring the future of our application on other routes and vehicles in the weeks and months to come.”
The hybrid system is claimed to reduce fuel consumption and associated emissions by up to 15-30%. During braking, the unit becomes a generator, recovering kinetic energy that would otherwise be lost as heat. This energy is then stored in a bank of five high-power graphene-based ultracapacitors, supplied by Skeleton Technologies.
Adgero recently unveiled a KERS-equipped trailer, which made its debut at the CV Show in April. The French firm partnered with leading European manufacturer SDC Trailers to install its UltraBoost system on a 13.6m curtainsider trailer, finished in Eddie Stobart livery.