Today's highlight: extended trailers

• Economical and ecological efficiency increase in goods traffic as a result of extended trailers
• More than ten percent fuel saving
• More than ten percent less CO2 emissions
• More savings potential than aerodynamic measures
• No investment in infrastructure necessary
• 7.45 metres shorter than a long truck
• EU commission reports changes in the length of semi-trailer combinations

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The Kögel Euro Trailer, extended by 1.3 metres, has returned into the spotlight in the current debate concerning moderate extensions in trailers. The EU Commission is currently reporting on the modification of the relevant Guideline 96/53/EU. This confirms the Kögel Euro Trailer concept.

Experiences with, and obstacles for, the Kögel Euro Trailer
Kögel has offered the trailer, extended by 1.3 metres, in various different body variants for seven years. Even before the field trials for innovative commercial vehicles, around 300 Kögel Euro Trailer, at that time still called the "Big Maxx", were running on German roads with exception permits and were able to demonstrate the benefits. Whilst the 300 extended trailers continue to run inconspicuously on roads throughout Germany with exception permits, all newly registered Euro Trailers since the start of 2012 are included in the field trials for innovative commercial vehicles. For this reason, these extended trailers and the long truck, which is 7.45 metres longer, are only allowed to run in the participating federal states of Bavaria, Hamburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia, and on approved routes in Bremen and Baden-Wurtemberg. The single benefit: The Euro Trailer is permitted to use the entire road network in the participating states.

Other benefits of the Kögel Euro Trailer
With a length of 14.9 metres, the capacity of the Euro Trailer increases by 10 m³, making it both more economical and more environmentally friendly. With stacked loading this allows you to transport up to eight more pallets. This results in a substantial reduction in fuel consumption per pallet transported. A ten percent lower CO2 emission rate with the same fuel consumption as compared with a standard trailer is confirmed by RWTH Aachen/Prof. Wallentowitz. The extended trailer thus represents the ideal solution for dealing with ever increasing transport volumes. Since the Euro Trailer is also shorter than a standard articulated combination there is a positive effect on traffic safety and on existing infrastructure, such as parking facilities. The Kögel Euro Trailer reduces transport costs, saves fuel, minimises CO2 emissions and increases the efficiency of forwarding operations.

Flexible application – even in combined transport
In accordance with the requirements of the field trials for innovative commercial vehicles, the Euro Trailers can be provided with railway codification for loading onto pocket wagons types c/e/f/g/h. Its structure conforms to body stability requirements set by DIN EN 12642 Code XL. In addition, the Euro Trailers have "Long Truck" warning signs, relevant contour marking and a camera system at the rear for watching the traffic behind.

"The fact that the Kögel Euro Trailer can make a substantial contribution to a reduction in our CO2 emissions is proven by the more than 300 extended Kögel trailers that have been rolling on German roads for years now, thanks to a special permit", says Thomas Eschey, Technology Manager at Kögel. "Kögel Euro Trailers make a proven significant contribution to an increase in economical and ecological efficiency in goods transport and should therefore not be allowed to run only with exceptional approval or in the framework of field trials."

Photo: Comparison standard semi-trailer combination, semi-trailer combination with extended trailer and Long Truck.

Your contact for any questions about this press release:
Volker Seitz
Head of Communication  
Tel: + 49 82 8588 – 12306
Fax: + 49 82 8 88 – 12424
volker.seitz (at) koegel.com

Patrick Wanner
PR-Manager
Tel: + 49 8285 88 – 12301
Fax: + 49 8285 88 – 12284
patrick.wanner (at) koegel.com