Background
TRAILAR is a UK-based start-up which utilises cutting-edge solar and data driven technology to help commercial vehicles reduce their fuel consumption, lower their carbon emissions, and optimise operational performance. Established November 2018, TRAILAR are now an industry leader in solar transport technology striving towards creating a greener future. As of September 2020, TRAILAR have 39 employees across two offices in Oldham and Rugby.
The approach
TRAILAR use an innovative approach to minimise fuel and CO2 emissions in commercial vehicles by installing flexible solar mats onto the roof of a vehicle. The solar mats are connected to the TRAILAR Smart Charge Controller which is fitted to the vehicle chassis.
With a vehicle’s alternator creating electrical energy via the burning of fuel, TRAILAR now dramatically reduces this requirement by providing clean solar energy to power on-board equipment, thus reducing fuel consumption.
TRAILAR’s technology also offers substantial improvements to fleet operations by providing customers with asset GPS location, detailed telematic data on fleet performance and battery health, allowing for the opportunity to proactively maintain assets. The technology leads to improved vehicle maintenance due to the continuous energy management ensuring the battery is at the most optimum level, even when the vehicle is off. This means that trailers and vehicles that have been through a period of none use, are proactively maintained by the TRAILAR system.