An ‘eHighway system combining hybrid trucks and overhead electrical wires is under trial in Germany, with the technology soon to be trialled in Los Angeles and Long Beach, Californa, after having been unveiled at the electric vehicle symposium 2012.
Developed by Siemens, the technology aims to decrease fuel consumption and eleminate noise emissions on heavily travelled stretches of highway or urban routes, such as on highway routes between ports or mines and cargo centres, or within cities.
The infrastructure consists of a series of overhead wires that would be installed over at least one travel lane of a highway, similar to the electrical wires of tram lines.
Specially equipped hybrid trucks will automatically (or manually) connect to these lines via pantographs along their roofs, allowing them to run exclusively
on electrical power, switching seamlessly to diesel upon disconnection (for passing, swerving, exiting, or other situations).
When the truck brakes, energy can be recuperated from the kinetic motion and fed back into the grid for usage by other connected vehicles.
The pantograph used in the system has been custom designed by Siemens to precisely monitor the connection between the unit and the wires, letting vehicles stay attached despite ordinary horizontal shifts in steering.
In addition to the upcoming trials in the USA, Siemens plans to partner with truck manufacturers to integrate the pantograph and engine system and software of ‘eHighway’ into both new and existing vehicles.
Drivers can attach and detach from the lines either manually or automatically (demo trucks feature a touchscreen console for control), the latter accomplished by onboard software.
