The article left me with more questions than answers but at least it is an attempt.
For one, is a single axel propelling the entire rig at that point?
Single axle shouldn’t be an issue in most single trailer setups provided you’re staying within weight limits in most circumstances, and you still have the full power of the ICE and its driven wheels if you have to start on a steep incline. Would have assumed the electrical motor(s) would be between the wheels and driving a short shaft to each driven wheel though (it’s not specified in the article either way). Putting the engine anywhere else means you need a differential and it’s going to need to be in the middle of where the battery pack is (generating heat).
Centralised motors as close to the wheels as practical is standard design for most EVs - shorter axless= reduces risk of breakage. 2 motors, one per wheel also reduces complexity and likelihood of failure (and increases HP available at the wheel) it’s how I would design it (and most high HP EVs are designed)
Driving backwards omg
Yeah if they couldn’t back up to a dock I imagine it’d be pretty useless. Backing something up that long has to be a royal pain in the arse
Backing something up that long has to be a royal pain in the arse
Let me introduce you to Australian road-trains
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_train
Tongue in cheek responses aside, by eyeball it’s only a couple of metres longer, that’s really not that big a deal for a decent driver, as long as the second 5th wheel is locked not rotating
Yeah that’s a bit longer I’d say haha. I assume they don’t have to back up 3 trailers though so they? Just set it down pull forward and back individual units up?
They mentioned Australia in the original article, I had just figured it was because a large span of sun lit area that people didn’t want to have to traverse often so it was set routes, but damn
Most everything is designed to be pull-through for obvious reasons, but yes, I’ve seen them being backed up.
I don’t know of any country outside of Oz that uses B Triples (3 trailers), but Canada also uses B doubles (two trailers).
I used to see them in the U.S. more, but it’s rare now. (Doubles) Never triples. Then again a lot of them I’d see were usually on 81, so they could have been heading north/south from shipments in and out of Canada
Interesting, I thought they were illegal in the US - TIL.
I think it’s a state thing, so if your trucking across borders and one state doesn’t allow it, you’re fucked, so most just ship singles.
have we not seen the “current” fleets on the highways ? many of which are ancient old but reliable motors. meaning, the companies that have trucks are often times slow to invest until there’s a problem or a cheaper better way of doing it. until then… well good luck.
