Upon request, the manufacturer will supply the specified technical documents as stipulated under section 3.3.1.
The SAF-Holland Group, a leading global manufacturer of trailer components, has unveiled the SAF TRAKr electric trailer axle, a compact and efficient solution for commercial vehicles. This innovative electric axle system is designed to improve energy recuperation, reduce vehicle weight, and maximize payload.
### Production and Development
SAF-Holland partnered with UK-based Advanced Electric Machines (AEM) to develop a bespoke electric motor, the HDRM150. This motor is a magnet-free, compact, and lightweight design tailored specifically for the SAF TRAKr e-axle. The motor can freewheel when not in use and is optimized for integration with the electric axle system, addressing the needs for smaller and lighter motors.
Development was driven by the need to achieve energy efficiency and sustainability, incorporating rare-earth-free motor designs to minimize environmental impact.
### Key Features
The SAF TRAKr e-axle includes a motor that acts as a regenerative generator. When braking or coasting, it converts kinetic energy into electricity, which can be stored in batteries. This stored energy can then power auxiliary equipment on the trailer, such as refrigeration units, cargo lifts, and walking floors, thus improving energy efficiency and reducing fuel consumption of the towing vehicle.
The HDRM150 motor offers approximately 20 kW performance and is suited for light-duty vehicles, hybrid powertrains, and non-highway motorized applications. The design emphasizes weight reduction to enable fleet operators to maximize payload capacity, an important consideration in commercial transport.
### Market Expansion
SAF-Holland announced the SAF TRAKr e-axle in 2020 and has been expanding partnerships, such as with AEM for motor supply and technological innovation. The e-axle is targeted at the commercial transport sector, where the demand for electrified and energy-efficient trailers is growing to meet sustainability regulations and operational cost savings.
The SAF TRAKr electric trailer axle is being distributed in Australia and New Zealand, with vehicles already on the roads in these markets. Its production is being ramped up continuously, and it is being gradually introduced to the market. In further regions, such as North America and India, the trailer axle is currently being tested in test vehicles.
### Additional Features
The generator of the SAF TRAKr is deactivated at vehicle speeds below 15 km/h to avoid increasing the required starting torque and fuel consumption of the towing vehicle. The fully electric operation of the refrigeration unit on the go is a noticeable comfort gain for drivers, as they are exposed to significantly less noise emissions.
The energy generated by the SAF TRAKr electric trailer axle is stored in a Li-Ion battery and used to operate the trailer's electrical consumers, such as refrigeration units or pumps, fully electrically. The SAF TRAKr electric trailer axle's modular design is specifically engineered to meet diverse global market requirements in the EMEA, AMERICAS, and APAC regions.
### Maintenance and Approval
Maintenance of the SAF TRAKr electric trailer axle is simple and cost-effective, as wear parts like brake pads or brake discs are identical to those of non-electrified axles from SAF-Holland. Many vehicle manufacturers are currently working on implementing the European type approval for the SAF TRAKr electric trailer axle, which simplifies the approval process.
The SAF TRAKr electric trailer axle is produced in the SAF-Holland plant in Bessenbach, Germany. By mid-2024, the portfolio will be expanded to include the combination with the MODUL suspension system.
### Applications
The main application areas for the SAF TRAKr electric trailer axle are refrigerated semi-trailers, container chassis for refrigerated containers, food tankers, silo vehicles, walking floors, and flatbed vehicles with crane.
In summary, the SAF TRAKr electric trailer axle represents an advanced, sustainable electric axle system with a key feature of regenerative energy capture via a bespoke, rare-earth-free electric motor, designed for commercial vehicles to improve energy efficiency and payload maximization. Its production leverages innovative partnerships and targets market growth in sustainable commercial transport solutions.
- The partnership between SAF-Holland and Advanced Electric Machines (AEM) led to the development of the HDRM150 motor, a compact and lightweight electric motor specifically designed for the SAF TRAKr e-axle, which aims to enhance energy efficiency and sustainability in the industry by minimizing environmental impact.
- The SAF-Holland Group, with its innovative technology, targets the growing demand for electrified and energy-efficient trailers in the commercial transport sector, focusing on finance, energy, and technology to meet sustainability regulations and operational cost savings.
