Closer collaboration between trailer manufacturers and technology partners will be key to navigating the new EU emissions rules now on the horizon. That's according to British electric motor manufacturer
Advanced Electric Machines (AEM), which is working with OEMs to bring rare earth-free motor technology into the next generation of trailer design.
Regulation (EU) 2024/1610 brings trailer design into the scope of EU emissions law for the first time, ending the long-standing treatment of trailers as passive equipment and setting CO2 reduction targets of 10% for semi-trailers and 7.5% for other trailer types from 2030. AEM says meeting those targets will depend on manufacturers and suppliers working together earlier and more openly than they have before.
The regulation recognises that a trailer's design directly affects a vehicle's fuel or energy consumption, making trailer efficiency a central consideration for manufacturers rather than an afterthought. Although the rules apply to vehicles sold into the EU, their influence on design and development will extend to international markets, shaping decisions well beyond European borders.
A range of technologies is emerging to help manufacturers respond. E-axles are among the most promising, transforming the trailer from a passive load into an active contributor to overall vehicle efficiency. By reducing tractor energy demand and improving the performance of both diesel and electric tractor combinations, they offer fleets and OEMs a practical route to compliance. Electric refrigeration systems are another option, replacing diesel units with motor-driven alternatives that eliminate emissions and cut noise enough to allow access to Clean Air Zones.
AEM builds its motors without rare earth magnets, avoiding a supply chain model the industry adopted decades ago and still largely depends on today. Removing that dependency gives OEMs a more resilient route to compliance: technology that is less exposed to overseas supply constraints and better protected against future disruption. AEM’s HDRM motors without magnets offer a specific technical advantage for trailer applications, as they can safely freewheel when not in use, helping to support efficiency without adding unnecessary drag.
AEM’s work with
SAF-Holland brought this thinking into production. The bespoke rare earth-free motor at the heart of the SAF TRAKr e-axle delivered a lightweight, efficient solution that integrates cleanly into existing vehicle architectures, giving OEMs a compliant technology without the supply chain risk built into conventional alternatives.
Tom Elliott, global business development director, said: "The industry has been clear it supports decarbonisation. The challenge is making the mechanism work in practice, and that will not come from any one part of the supply chain in isolation. E-axles are becoming an increasingly attractive option because they can add propulsion assistance, reduce load and recover energy through regeneration. The manufacturers that engage with technology partners early will be the ones that turn compliance into a performance advantage."