Samenvatting

Abstract
Driven by the European Green Deal, the road-freight sector is hybridizing its fleet. However,
at present, trailing units do not possess any form of powertrain, a missed opportunity. By
introducing electrically driven axles, these units may reduce fuel consumption and emissions
substantially. Nevertheless, swift integration of these vehicles is challenging. One of the
dominating ones is the intelligent control of the E-axle without receiving information from the
towing vehicle to ensure interoperability & interchangeability, a must in the logistics sector. A
new type of coupling system appears as a relevant and necessary solution, a Force-Sensing
Kingpin. Such a system measures the longitudinal force, representing the supplied tractor
power, which can be used to control the E-axle. This paper discusses the development and
testing of this system, including modelling and simulation, lab-environmental tests and
analysis of the signal's suitability for control. The outcomes will be used in another project,
CHANGE, which further explores the control strategies using the “Force-Sensing Kingpin”.