BPW gears up for trailer CO2 certification
Trailer technology provider BPW has said its products will fulfil the requirements for the forthcoming certification of trailers according to their CO2 emissions, as to be required by the EU from 2024 onwards as part of its environmental policy.
BPW products already meet the requirements of the EU simulation tool VECTO (Vehicle Energy Consumption Calculation Tool), says the company, which makes it easier to compare trailers and rewards climate-friendly technologies with a CO2 bonus.
The shift in policy by the EU is expected to reduce CO2 emissions from towing vehicles by 15 per cent until 2025 and by 30 per cent until 2030 compared to the 2019/2020 reference period. Trailer manufacturers who fail the yet-to-be-defined fleet consumption targets can expect fines.
One- to three-axle semi-trailers will be certified, as well as central axle and turntable trailers. This includes all trailers with box-shaped structures, i.e. solid box vans, as well as curtainsiders. The trailers’ CO2 emissions are determined using software specially developed for this purpose: the simulation program VECTO calculates different usable loads and dimensions, but also takes into different bonus factors.
The reduced fuel consumption results in bonus factors of up to 4.5 per cent through the use of lifting and steering axles and depending on the driving cycle. The use of lightweight running gear is also rewarded.
BPW says it has been demonstrating the CO2 and fuel savings of its trailer solutions for years, along with specific figures about reduced tyre wear and other system advantages relevant to the economics of transport.
The company is a member of the VECTO committees, where it advocates for considering further consumption-reducing solutions. These include, among other things, regenerative braking axles that generate power for electric cooling units while driving.
Bernd Rhein, application engineering manager at BPW, said: “There are still a few unanswered questions before the final design of the certification.
“More consideration of the benefits of transport would be desirable. A high-volume transporter that makes maximum use of the legally permitted dimensions, for example, might get a worse rating than a standard vehicle according to the current plan. Longer vehicle combinations and drawbar trailers with more than three axles are also lacking.
“A little more fine-tuning is needed to realistically reflect the economic factors and climate-friendliness of these vehicles. In principle, we are headed in the right direction.
“The regulation is a great advantage for innovative vehicle manufacturers and their system partners. It creates more transparency and comparability, where previously the sales price was the main focus. The new trailer certification will be a win-win situation for our environment and for vehicle operators.”
