FPInnovations has announced promising results in terms of fuel economy and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) dring field testing of an innovative electric drive trailer for use in forest operations.

 The prototype trailer, developed in collaboration with Deloupe, Feutures and electric drive axle and shows the possibilities for the forest transportation sector to fight climate change. The project was made possible thanks to an investment of more than $1.8 million provided through Natural Resources Canada's Clean Growth Program and its Forest Innovation Program, Quebec government's Innov-R program through the research and development consortiums (innovEE), and BC's Ministry of Forests.

According to the organization, major challenges remain for heavy and long-haul if electric truck applications; including transport range, the lack of infrastructure solutions such a recharging stations, or the low-carbon fuel supply infrastructure on resource roads (which are typically remote).

This first series of road tests used a semi-trailer where one of the conventional axles was replaced with a drive axle powered by an electric motor and high voltage components. The trailer also includeda safety system consisting of load cells that monitored push-pull interactions between the trailer and the truck. The tests also aimed at developing a proof of concept for the second phase of the project, which involves the develpment of a biomass electric trailer as well as a more robust prototype for testing on forest roads.

The tests took place on a 105-km long paved road with an 89-km mountainous section and a maximum elevation difference of 355 m. In addition to showing superior dynamic behavior and shorter time cycles, results obtained demonstrate average fuel savings between 10.5% and 14.1% per test run, with results of 17.5% for the uphill section and 9.4% for the downhill section. These very promising results could even increase with the improvement of the prototype.

Overall, the test performed on hybrid electric tractor semi-trailer achieved average fuel savings of 12% and showed potential annual GHG emission reductions of 23 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (CO2 eq) PER 100 km per vehicle, when the electric drive axle was activated on the hybrid electric tractor-trailer test vehicle. Based on a average annual driving distance of 100,000 km, the hybrid electric tractor-trailer prototype would show a potential annual GHG emission reduction of approximately 23 tonnes CO2 eq per vehicle, which could allow Canada to remove 7500 tonnes CO2 eq per year from its carbon balance.

Stephane Renou, President and CEO of FPInnovations: "We are very excited with these amazing results, which not only meet our goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel consumption, but also demonstrate the potential of FPInnovations and its partners to develop promising greener technologies for the forest transportation sector."

FPInnovations is a private not-for-profit organization that specializes in the creation of solutions that support the Canadian forest sector's global competitiveness. It is idally positioned to perform state-of-the-art research, develop advanced technologies, and deliver innovative solutions to complex problems for every area of the sector's value chain, from forest operations to consumer and idustrial products.