Providing solar solutions to reduce emissions at TRAILAR

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.

The results

“TRAILAR is committed to delivering sustainable transport for all and achieving zero emissions sooner with solar.”

Ellie Poole, Business Support Manager at TRAILAR

Within 18 months, TRAILAR have seen immense interest and growth across the global transport industry. DHL Supply Chain & Freight, Ryder, Mawdsley’s, Go-Ahead, ALBA Group, Royal Mail and Hovis are just several of the companies currently benefitting from TRAILAR. Three of these customers, DHL Supply Chain, Royal Mail & Mawdsley’s, have gone even further by integrating TRAILAR as standard with their new fleet specifications.

In August 2020, a DHL fleet of 145 vehicles saved 9.3 tonnes of CO2 and 3,500 litres of diesel by using TRAILAR. On average, the vehicles were in use for 16 days and 1.5 litres of diesel was saved per day. Since February 2020, 36 DHL Thailand vehicles have saved approximately 38 litres of diesel on average per month – close to 9,500 litres saved and equal to almost 30 tonnes of CO2.

The company’s goal of reducing the global transport environmental impact is well underway and they have already made an impact globally with over 1,000 solutions sold across five continents in its first year and continuing their growth even through the COVID-19 pandemic.

“TRAILAR systems allow for the trailers to become self-sufficient, this means that our double deck trailers are operationally ready when required for loading. Less time in the yard means more time on the road, optimising our service further for the end customer.”

Paul Gatti, Fleet Director at Royal Mail

Over the last 12 months, TRAILAR have continued to expand their product portfolio from two to seven types of vehicles (including, Rigid Trucks, Refrigerated Vans, Buses, Refuse Trucks and Electric Vehicles). Their recently announced goal is to save customers over 100 million litres in fuel, and 268,000 tonnes of CO2 by 2025, with over 32,000 units sold.

To learn more about TRAILAR's technology and other customer case studies, visit www.trailar.co.uk.