Groupe Robert uses solar energy to power electric device

More than a hundred trucks Robert Group are now equipped with solar panels, regulators and third generation of batteries that can heat or cool depending on the season, the inside of a cabin for an entire night without burning a single drop of fuel. « “This lets drivers rest comfortably in a temperature-controlled sleeper compartment, without the noise, pollution or waste that comes with engine idling,” explains Robert Frédéric, Director, Material Resources.
Trucks propelled with liquid natural gas, are now fitted with a system composed of four batteries that can provide 300 watts of electricuty: enough to supply power to the tractor for an entire night.
The new trucks are ordered without the previously required diesel generators, but with the solar panel system already installed by the dealer.
As the cost of a solar system is the same as for the diesel-powered system that trucks would otherwise require – about $ 14,000, Groupe Robert did not out of pocket any extra money for new tractor orders. In fact, it makes savings on the first overnight trip saving the cost of a liter of diesel every hour that the solar system operates the cabin equipment.
The solar project began in 2013 when the group acquired a rigid 100W panel that was originally developed for recreational vehicles. Its autonomy was unfortunately not up to the task, providing only 5-6 hours of electricity.
They eventually founf flexible 50 W. solar panels The Grouep Robert added 4 of htem to each tractor: two on the hood and two on the cabin deflector. Which propels the system to 300 Watts
“For all of the new trucks in which drivers use bunks – long- and medium-haul work – the solar panels will be installed. We buy the parts and send the trucks to Excellence Peterbilt, or the Centre du Camion Ste-Marie in Saint-Hyacinthe,” Maurais says. “The adoption rate is only limited by the fleet renewal rate.”
Groupe Robert prefers the flexible panels, which are simply riveted to the hood and cab deflector. “I don’t think we will use the rigid panels anymore, because they are more susceptible to damage,” Maurais says. The rigid panels are more difficult and costly to install and in any case, cannot be installed on high-cab tractors.
Since the boost to 300-W systems, there have been no performance or maintenance issues. On the topic of winter duty, Maurais says, “People ask us whether there is an issue with snow and ice. With the engine heat and the warming of the black panels there is no problem. And there is so much wind up on the deflector, snow does not stay there.”
Source : Truck News