Range Energy, a developer and manufacturer of electric-powered trailers, said third-party testing showed that its technology boosts semi-truck fuel economy by more than 3 mpg.

The company cited preliminary testing that showed its technology enables up to 36.9% fuel efficiency gains (+3.25 mpg) for semi-trucks.

In May, Range unveiled a 53-foot full-scale electric trailer, RA-01, which it called the first of Range’s RA Series of vehicles. The trailer’s electrification platform and equipment set — an e-axle, battery pack, and smart kingpin — provides power to auxiliary devices, enables zero-emission precooling for transportation refrigeration units, and provides the ability to move trailers with reduced emissions.

Technology Can Reduce Fuel Use or Extend EV Range

The fuel economy testing was conducted by Mesilla Valley Transportation Solutions, a company that provides testing and design and development services for the trucking industry.

The testing was conducted on a 25.5-mile urban/highway loop at approximately 59,000 lbs. GVW and 60 mph top speeds across multiple scenarios, including stop/go and steady-speed portions.

Daryl Bear, COO, MVT Solutions, said the technology demonstrates meaningful progress toward rapidly reducing the emissions of the commercial trucking sector. He said the trailers can also help fleet operators meet emerging emissions reductions targets and bring down their cost-per-mile regardless of their duty cycle.

“Achieving 36.3% efficiency improvements proves to the trucking industry how important and overlooked trailers are to enhancing efficiency and lowering emissions for our industry,” said Ali Javidan, CEO and Founder, Range Energy. “We anticipate these numbers will only improve as we begin testing with production quality parts versus prototype components,”

​“We were impressed with the Range trailer,” added Bear. “Whether a fleet wants to reduce fuel usage or increase BEV range, this system provides unique opportunities over a traditional trailer – and by a large amount when considering it achieved 36.3% fuel savings. Our drivers also liked the Range trailer; reporting it pulled easier and felt lighter.

"Naturally, there is a trade-off with electric charging and additional weight, so it may not suit every fleet, but for those considering the EV direction, Range is worth talking to.”

Range Energy was founded in 2021 and is led by a team with deep EV industry expertise from Tesla, Zoox, Honda, and others. The company is backed by investors such as UP Partners, R7, and Yamaha Motor Ventures.