This CES #tech surprised me #ev #ces #technology

One of my favorite pieces of tech from CES is an RV ... but not for the reasons you might think. It's got some tech on board that could go way beyond RVs.

[dutchmaninpl]

In Europe there are already prototypes on the road being tested where a full size semi trailer with battery and engine helps pushing its own weight. First tests with an EV tractor shows it’s extends the range with up to 60% vs a standard EV tractor trailer

[ernststravoblofeld]

When I had a Pebble, it was a watch. They grow up so fast....

[joewiddup]

Kinda surprised the comment section isn't nerdy enough to know RJ LeTourneau popularized electric driven trailer axel technology in the 1950s. Land trains powered by Saturn gas turbines generators and kerosene.

[michaelkolozsvari]

That's an interesting notion for shipping!

[fudgesauce]

oh, he said, "Takes a massive range hit." The first time I thought he said, "Takes a massive brain shit." It didn't make sense, but I was distracted by how candid Matt was being.

[vlaardingerrr]

This is a clever solution. The battery of the electric RV must also be capable of feeding your normal house as a extension for your home battery. So u get some use out of your 45kwh of extra storage when you’re not on vacation with your RV.

[BruceHurley]

Is it just me or is that not an RV? That is a trailer, not a vehicle.

[Zuckerpuppekopf]

Nice, a trailer that pushes your car. The eBike concept has grown up.

[donagnew]

Edison motors is already looking at electrifying trailers

[jeffparry]

Wow! So, what you are saying is a semi truck could go further and use less energy if what it was "pulling" was propelling itself? If the trailer had motors and batteries that "helped" the semi ?
That is awesome!

[daarkdocumenter]

I never thought of powering the trailer! Mind = blown.

[davivify]

I LOVE the idea of putting solar panels on trailers. Why not make use of all that flat real-estate for something useful?

[bignamek]

This js actually an idea ive had for a while. Cool to see that companies are going for it.

[nigelsmith]

I guess the trailer in this situation can also back charge the car!

[thelegend-e]

One of the challenges I see with commercial ev trailers is that there are strict weight limits for the overall weight of the cab+trailer.

An EV semi is already extremely heavy, which reduces how much freight they can transport. I'm not sure if there's any battery size in the trailer that would yield enough additional range to offset the lost hauling capacity due to the motors +batteries in the trailer.

Plus there's always the additional cost and complexity involved, but that's par for the course for most new innovations and may get solved in time.

[jt]

Imagine that, 2 EVs hitched together will go further than 1.

[tbix]

I love the idea of an EV as a trailer. Thanks for sharing. I often thought that a good entry level introduction to EV vehicles could be a trailer that was basically an EV minus the car that could be attached to any vehicle that has a trailer hitch. It could regenerative brake the car and also passively accelerate the car by monitoring the hitch contact. You drive the vehicle as you normally would and the trailer basically nudges you in the direction your traveling maintaining a constant pressure reducing the load on your engine. You accelerate it pushes to keep contact. You break it sees your brake light and drags on you.

[StarkStromer]

Btw. Dethleff E.Home made this and much more innovative things years before already.

[Lukeyson]

I think this is big news. Especially (1) for Off-road campers who can benefit from the extra traction of a self propelled trailer and (2) Because the batteries in the camper can be used for off-grid powering of appliances much better than existing off-grid battery installations.

[WolfX]

I thought of that a long time ago... It's good to see it's getting out there :3