Credit: krone-trailer.com
Electric personal transport, including long distance travel, is a solved problem.
Short-range trucking has also been solved.
All-electric long-haul trucking, on the other hand does not yet have a solution. Although Swiss rail-infrastructure company Furrer+Frey has a suggestion: tractor swapping.
Be sure to check the comments on the articles linked below – lots of interesting discussion.
Slideshow of the original presentation included in this article:
https://chargedevs.com/newswire/furrerfrey-proposes-tractor-swapping-for-long-haul-trucks/
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1104425_how-to-turn-long-haul-trucking-all-electric-tractor-swapping
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2016/05/2060530-furrerfrey.html / Furrer + Frey proposes tractor swapping solution electrification long-haul trucking Furrer + Frey provider rail electrification rapid charging systems transport tractor swapping solution electrification long-haul trucking Furrer + Freylong-time partner Opbrid provider overhead pantograph-based ultra-fast charging Opbrid Bůsbaar buses IAA 2014 Opbrid introduced Trůkbaar heavy-duty trucks Trůkbaar one element Furrer + Frey tractor swapping solution Furrer + Frey acquired Opbrid operations presentation outlining concept Roger Bedell founder Opbrid Furrer + Frey numerous studies 2020-2030 heavy-duty vehicles overtake passenger cars largest global contributor fuel consumption GHG green house gas greenhouse gas green-house gas emissions transport sector solutions shifting long-haul trucking electric drive overhead catenaries in-road inductive charging ultra-fast battery recharging battery swapping require major investments infrastructure heavier lower energy density LTO batteries ultra-high charging rates technically difficult size battery packs expensive dedicated stations proposed tractor swapping model tractor-trailer low battery charge pull into station fully charged tractor waiting driver switches tractors departs with a full pack first tractor recharges recharge enabling technologies streamline the process Jost KKS automated coupling system fully automatic driver assistance system controls all functions coupling decoupling process previously performed manually first automated interface pneumatic electric connections Furrer + Frey Opbrid Trůkbaar Opbrid Trůkbaar designed ultra high power mode 4 DC charging up to 650 kW power transfer conductive technology transferred European electric rail industry Furrer + Frey power transfer enables scenarios super short charge stops 24-hour operation advantages are clear simple fast, without need for large infrastructure projects disadvantages need to be addressed Bedell precise scheduling avoid idle tractors nstallation KKS system participating tractors and trailers delays can propagate through the system similar delays air travel business model favors large shippers Bedell estimates range required per tractor 200 km 124 miles plus buffer wind hills tractor-trailer electricity consumption same as 12 m bus 1kWh/km 2kWh/km pack 400 kWh /
