xcel
09-15-2010, 11:20 PM
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/European_Union_Flag.jpg 2% on the amount a big rig gulps down is a lot of diesel! (cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=281817)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Scania_OTR_Boattail.jpgWayne Gerdes - CleanMPG (cleanmpg.com) - Sept. 15, 2010
The mini-boat-tail on a big rig trailer…
Scania has begun tests of a rear air deflector known as a boat-tail, which can reduce fuel consumption by up to 2 percent. This corresponds to an annual savings of 317 gallons of diesel fuel for a European truck running 125,000 miles per year.
The boat-tail is mounted on a normal three-axle semitrailer for European long-haulage. The length of the vehicle combination increases by approximately 1 foot, which is equivalent to the extra length permitted for a taillift or other loading equipment according to the European Union Trucking Industry Directives.
“The tests are limited to Sweden and Denmark while we await final word on how road and traffic authorities in the Netherlands and Germany view our interpretation and application of the EU directive,” says Anders Gustavsson, Managing Director of the Scania Transport Laboratory.
Fuel savings of 2 percent not only reduce the transport industry’s costs but also lead to large environmental gains.
“For the Transport Laboratory trucks, which run 223,000 miles per year and average 9 mpg (US based Big Rigs do not average anything near that level of FE :confused:) represent an annual saving of almost 501 gallons of diesel per truck. This kind of aerodynamic improvement is positive for industry profitability as well as the environment,” Mr Gustavsson says.
A recently introduced EU proposal would amend the current Directive 97/27 EC to allow trailers to be equipped with a rear air deflector that lengthens the vehicle combination by a foot.
“This is a solution that does not encroach on cargo space and can also be retrofitted on existing trailers. In light of this, I hope that European trailer manufacturers will find it of interest to begin developing an integrated boat-tail. It involves a very simple technical solution that could quickly help reduce transport costs and environmental impact,” Mr Gustavsson concludes.
The Scania Transport Laboratory is a wholly owned subsidiary of Scania that tests and evaluates vehicle characteristics and performance for the commercial trucking industry. The company’s tasks also include training and coaching its drivers in economical and safe driving techniques. The company accounts for a small portion of the goods haulage to Scania’s European production and assembly units. Its fleet consists of 20 tractor units and about 70 semitrailers.
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Scania_OTR_Boattail.jpgWayne Gerdes - CleanMPG (cleanmpg.com) - Sept. 15, 2010
The mini-boat-tail on a big rig trailer…
Scania has begun tests of a rear air deflector known as a boat-tail, which can reduce fuel consumption by up to 2 percent. This corresponds to an annual savings of 317 gallons of diesel fuel for a European truck running 125,000 miles per year.
The boat-tail is mounted on a normal three-axle semitrailer for European long-haulage. The length of the vehicle combination increases by approximately 1 foot, which is equivalent to the extra length permitted for a taillift or other loading equipment according to the European Union Trucking Industry Directives.
“The tests are limited to Sweden and Denmark while we await final word on how road and traffic authorities in the Netherlands and Germany view our interpretation and application of the EU directive,” says Anders Gustavsson, Managing Director of the Scania Transport Laboratory.
Fuel savings of 2 percent not only reduce the transport industry’s costs but also lead to large environmental gains.
“For the Transport Laboratory trucks, which run 223,000 miles per year and average 9 mpg (US based Big Rigs do not average anything near that level of FE :confused:) represent an annual saving of almost 501 gallons of diesel per truck. This kind of aerodynamic improvement is positive for industry profitability as well as the environment,” Mr Gustavsson says.
A recently introduced EU proposal would amend the current Directive 97/27 EC to allow trailers to be equipped with a rear air deflector that lengthens the vehicle combination by a foot.
“This is a solution that does not encroach on cargo space and can also be retrofitted on existing trailers. In light of this, I hope that European trailer manufacturers will find it of interest to begin developing an integrated boat-tail. It involves a very simple technical solution that could quickly help reduce transport costs and environmental impact,” Mr Gustavsson concludes.
The Scania Transport Laboratory is a wholly owned subsidiary of Scania that tests and evaluates vehicle characteristics and performance for the commercial trucking industry. The company’s tasks also include training and coaching its drivers in economical and safe driving techniques. The company accounts for a small portion of the goods haulage to Scania’s European production and assembly units. Its fleet consists of 20 tractor units and about 70 semitrailers.