Skeleton Technologies and Adgero develop KERS for road haulage

The hybrid system is designed to reduce fuel consumption and associated emissions by up to 25%, and is optimised for intermodal road transport solutions.

The Adgero Hybrid System consists of a bank of high-power ultracapacitors working alongside an electrically-driven axle mounted under the trailer. The technology is controlled by an intelligent management system that tracks driver input to automatically control the regenerative braking and acceleration boost.

The technology - designed to exceed the typical 10-year lifetime of the trailer - is expected to reduce fuel consumption and associated CO₂ emissions by 15-25%, depending on traffic and terrain.

“Road haulage accounts for over a fifth of the EU’s total CO₂ emissions, so fuel efficient solutions are crucial. We are beginning to see regenerative braking systems in automotive applications but the market clearly needs a similar solution for articulated lorries,” said Mack Murray, CEO of Adgero SARL. “By partnering with Skeleton Technologies, we are putting the world’s most advanced ultracapacitors at the heart of our system. This will give us a powerful competitive edge in a demanding industry where energy density is a key metric.”