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You could do that with a much simpler trailer, though. All you need is battery and a cable.

I don't know anything about electric trucks, but given that the standard use is to add trailers to them, I'd be surprised if "put the battery in the trailer" isn't already part of the plan.

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The battery is already a huge chunk of the cost, the added benefit of putting traction on the trailer itself is pretty big and could theoretically allow trucks to exceed their rated towing capacity if regulators get on it.

Also it means that it's compatible with ALL trucks, not just electric ones, and doesn't rely on truck manufacturers integrating a new standard power supply that can be used while the truck is moving.

Doing so would lose out on a large amount of regen though. If you are putting electric motors on the trailer axles anyways to capture the energy which would normally be turned into heat in the trailer brakes, then you may as well also drive those axles to make the most of the weight.

Perhaps this means the tractors can be less powerful if most trailers also provide some motive power.

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