Mercedes-Benz and Iveco are both working on trailers that slip through air as opposed to battering the exponential force of the wind. The German's claim a conservative 5% fuel savings, the Italians 8%. And it's all to do with banana shapes.
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| Merc claim their slippery trailer cuts the fuel bill by 5%. |
Merc say they have recorded 18% less wind resistance reduction in its streamlined
tractor-trailer combo, which the company said should equate to a five-percent
reduction in fuel use.For the average year of a busy trailer, that represents 2 000
liters of fuel and an astonishing 4,5 tons of carbon dioxide (CO²).
Merc's trailer is still a concept at this stage, since the extension
at the rear will require a change in legislation. The reported benefits are so
significant, however, that this may be achieved in due course.
In Watford in the UK, meanwhile, Iveco is one step ahead.
The Italians are already preparing what it believes could
be the ultimate fuel-saving heavy-truck combination for press evaluation, after
pairing its Ecostralis 6x2 mid-lift tractor unit with Montracon’s new
fuel-saving trailer (FST).
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| Montracon claism Iveco's tri-axle box-van semi-trailer saves up to 8% in fuel costs. |
Iveco's tri-axle box-van semi-trailer is claimed by Montracon to return
fuel savings of up to eight percent, compared with traditional box vans. It is
now a permanent addition to Iveco’s Dunstable-based press fleet, and will be
available for media appraisal and a road test in the UK and Ireland throughout
2012, in conjunction with the Ecostralis AS440S46TX/P.
Speaking of higher fuel levies and prices, Nigel Emms, press and
public relations director of Iveco, said they were confident the pairing of
their ultra-fuel-efficient Ecostralis with this sleek new aerodynamic trailer
would demonstrate a further way for fleets to save fuel.
The Ecostralis features a re-mapped version of the EEV-rated FPT
Cursor 10 engine, designed to reduce fuel consumption, while maintaining
performance. The 10,3-litre engine can produce up to 460 horse power, and a
maximum torque of 2 100 Nm (between 1 050 and 1,550 revs per minute).
Additional fuel-saving features include an Ecoswitch device that
uses the vehicle weight information from the braking systems to limit engine
torque according to the truck’s gross vehicle weight — ensuring overall
performance is maintained in line with that of a fully laden vehicle. This
allows fuel consumption to be minimised during acceleration, without affecting
overall speed capability.
ECOSTRALIS models also feature automatic EuroTronic transmission
that adjusts to the loading of the vehicle to help fine-tune fuel economy.
It rolls on Michelin X Energy SaverGreen low-resistance tyres, a
higher gearing and an 85 km/h speed limiter further optimise fuel
performance.
Trials involving the first two customer Ecostralis tractor units
delivered in the UK in 2011 to Bedfords Transport highlighted a 15,6%
improvement in fuel economy when measured against the fleet average. Bedfords
Transport ordered a further 12 identical tractor units on the back of this
positive fuel performance.
The fuel-saving properties incorporated into the FST have been
achieved by Montracon, without any change to overall height, capacity or
load-placing flexibility.
Montracon claim that the key to the design is a curved roof,
trailer sides that taper 40 mm at the back, plus the application of a line of
vortex generators at the rear edges of the roof and sides.
This combination serves to divert the attached air flow from the
trailer roof/sides into the immediate trailer wake, which reduces the partial
vacuum that develops progressively in this location with vehicle speed, to the
benefit of fuel economy.
Matched to the curved roof is a trailer bed, an aerodynamic front
bulkhead and aerodynamic side skirts that channel air flow along the trailer
sides — away from the underside. — WR.
