Smart electrified trailers as distributed sensing and actuation platforms for heavy-duty freight transport

Heavy-duty freight electrification is commonly discussed in terms of batteries, charging infrastructure, and powertrain efficiency. However, electrification may also enable a broader transformation of freight vehicle architecture by fundamentally changing the role of the trailer itself. Conventional diesel trucks concentrate propulsion, sensing, and vehicle-dynamics control within the tractor unit, reinforcing long-standing compromises between rolling resistance, traction, stability, and energy efficiency. Electric powertrains fundamentally alter these constraints by enabling propulsion and braking forces to be distributed across multiple electronically controlled axles with relatively little mechanical complexity. Building upon recent advances in vehicle dynamics control, intelligent vehicle control, and distributed sensing technologies, this Perspective introduces the concept of the Smart Electrified Trailer (SET) as a distributed sensing and actuation platform, in which electrified trailer axles combine compact electric machines, wheel-speed sensing, local control, and communication systems to actively participate in vehicle-dynamics management. Unlike current e-trailer concepts primarily intended to provide propulsion assistance or onboard energy storage, the proposed architecture emphasizes distributed control, regenerative braking, stability enhancement, and lower rolling-resistance operation. Beyond torque distribution, future SET architectures may also incorporate distributed perception through cameras, inertial sensors, and other onboard monitoring systems, extending situational awareness throughout the entire articulated vehicle. Such capabilities could improve maneuvering safety, support advanced driver-assistance systems, and provide a natural technological pathway toward future autonomous freight transport. The paper argues that the next generation of heavy-duty freight vehicles may be characterized not only by electric propulsion, but also by intelligent distributed control, transforming trailers from passive cargo carriers into cooperative cyber-physical nodes that enhance vehicle stability, energy recovery, safety, and overall transport efficiency. Graphical Abstract