The collaboration signed by Sono Motors and CHEREAU aims to jointly develop a refrigerated trailer that will be powered by solar energy, thanks to integration on the roof and on the sides of photovoltaic panels. The technology patented by the German company that is capable of proportional to the Sion, an electric and solar car, up to 34 kilometers of extra autonomy every daywill save more than 3.400 liters of fuel and reduce local CO emissionstwo in 9 tons Current per vehicle.
While the Sion continues its series validation phase with the aim of starting deliveries to its reserve holders in 2023, its solar panel technology continues to thrive and be deployed in other types of vehicles and in different applications. Several have been the companies that have associated with Sono to integrate their solar technology and reduce their emissions.
One of them is the EZ10 autonomous shuttle prototype developed in collaboration with EasyMile, as well as a solar trailer for a truck from the Finnish company Valoe. In May 2021, Sono announced their collaboration with MAN to develop solar powered vans and possibly a cooling system. The latest vehicle that has integrated this technology is a 12-meter bus equipped with solar panels in a collaborative project with the Munich mayor’s office.
Currently, Sono Motors has 16 partners worldwide now joined by number 17, CHEREAU, a Reefer Group company and one of Europe’s leading refrigerated trailer experts. The two companies will develop a solar refrigerated trailer, as indicated in the joint press release that describes the work and integrates a purchase plan signed by the parent group of CHEREAU.
As part of the collaboration, Sono Motors and CHEREAU will build a prototype of the refrigerated trailer which will undergo extensive testing to assess its technical and economic feasibility in a high-volume production environment. Sono Motors will equip the roof and sides of an existing CHEREAU trailer with 54 solar modulesusing the vehicle-applied photovoltaic (VaPV) process developed specifically for use in cargo box vehicles.
To prepare for the large-scale production that opening this line of business will require, Sono Motors is already developing its solar technology in refrigerated semi-trailers that can provide energy savings of up to 80% compared to diesel. Sono Motors Co-Founder and CEO Laurin Hahn spoke about this contract in these terms: “This partnership is a big step for Sono Motors as we open up a whole new industry for highly flexible solar technology. We offer a lightweight, adaptable platform that is ideal for refrigerated trailers and enables customers in the transportation industry to reduce costs and emissions across their entire fleet.”
Among the benefits of this technology on this type of vehicle, Sono Motors cites the solar integration which will provide the trailer’s refrigerated unit with an additional peak of 9.8kwthe potential fuel savings of approx. 3,416 liters (up to 84.75 in optimal conditions) and the reduction of local CO emissionstwo in approximately 9 tons per year and per vehicle, compared to trailers with diesel-powered refrigeration units.
The solar-powered refrigerated trailer prototype will be officially unveiled at the IAA Transportation 2022 in Hannover, Germany, which will take place from September 20 to 25 this year. After the official presentation, the trailer will start a phase of several months of intensive testing integrated into the truck fleet of a CHEREAU customer in France. Part of that testing process will include validation of some of the earlier stated numbers for power delivery and fuel economy.
