Phillips Connect is bringing its innovative technology to the front door of North American fleet operations with its state-of-the-art, solar-powered tech trailer.
Phillips says its trailer showcases and demonstrates its complete offering of premier smart-trailer solutions that are already helping fleets increase uptime, maximize their efficiencies, increase ROIs, and reduce CSA violations.
Phillips Connect is associated with Phillips Industries, one of the oldest, and highest regarded suppliers to the commercial vehicle industry known for producing best-in-class air and electrical components. By starting with the durable, high-quality line of products that Phillips Industries has built its reputation on, Phillips Connect’s advanced telematics solutions can most effectively evolve for optimal fleet management, the company says.
Phillips Connect Executive Vice President Jim Epler is traveling across the country to schedule private consultations with commercial fleet operations, giving them the unique opportunity to see, touch, and feel Phillips Connect’s complete product suite. Phillips Connect says Epler is meeting with customers in the tech trailer to learn in-depth about their unique needs, collaborating with them to tailor the best solution for their operation. Live demos are also conducted to pull data from the devices and visually demonstrate it through the Connect1 user interface in real time.
“We’re thrilled to be taking our show to the customer and displaying our technology alongside incredible partners,” he says. “This allows for a more personalized experience and enables us to truly understand the needs of the fleet. Since starting these visits, we’ve already seen major success from this program. Phillips Connect is working closely with Stealth Power and Merlin Solar for a seamless integration, and we cannot wait to continue our tour of the country with their technology powering our trailer.”
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The cutting-edge tech trailer has partnered with Stealth Power and Merlin Solar to reduce carbon emission and power the vehicle with clean energy. Phillips Connect says the solar panel on top of the trailer powers 10 LiFePO4 batteries that in turn power the tech trailer, along with the 45-ft., motor coach pulling it.
“Stealth Power has partnered with Phillips Connect and Merlin Solar to manage the power modules for a new trailer that will be taken to customers across the country as it follows the 2022 NHRA race circuit,” says Tres Hill, CTO, Stealth Power. “Stealth Intelligence is being used to monitor the power that is generated by the solar panels on the roof, the amount of power that is being used by the trailer, the status of the power modules, and other important metrics. The information that is collected is then being displayed using a secure web application framework that can be accessed from a wide variety of different devices.”
“When we saw how Phillips Connect is converting trailers into smart-trailers and its ability to monitor so many valuable data points on a trailer, we knew this would be a winner for us,” adds Venkatesan Murali, founder and CTO, Merlin Solar. “Together, Merlin Solar and Phillips Connect have created a mobile solar-farm that has the ability to completely power its demo trailer, as well as the massive coach that pulls it, without having to be plugged into shore power. We worked hard to develop the most durable, flexible, aerodynamic, and easy-to-install solar kits in the world. Even though the solar panels are installed horizontally and vertically on the trailer, Merlin delivers the highest amount of energy in all weather conditions. We’re excited to share the field data on our extraordinary ROI on both internal combustion engines and electric vehicles.”
Phillips Connect adds its trailer also showcases Phillips Industries’ highly regarded back-of-cab solutions, as well as solutions from its exclusive partners: Sensata, Bendix, and Velociti. Each partner brings its own unique, best-in-class product or service to the trailer’s display, offering fleets an elite array of solutions. With Sensata’s intelligent sensor technology, Bendix’s industry-leading braking solutions, and Velociti’s smart trailer installations, customers will have the ability to hand-select the package that will help deliver their fleets the highest ROI, the company adds.