Fuel Consumption Reduction of Tractor-Trailers by Variable Body Geometries

Peter Fischer, Mario Hirz, Jürgen Fabian, Severin Stadler, Martin Prenner

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

Abstract

Reduction of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions represents a main objective of development in transportation industry today. As one component of driving resistances, the aerodynamic drag plays an important role. Especially in case of functional-driven design of commercial vehicles, unfavorable outer vehicle contours lead to high aerodynamic drag coefficients. The present publication introduces a patented approach of a variable body geometry for tractor-trailers to provide both, reduced aerodynamic resistances and maximum transportation space on demand. A prototype trailer has been developed and tested under real-life haulage conditions over a driving performance of more than 20,000 km. In this field trial, the measured averaged reduction of fuel consumption resulted in about 1.5 liters fuel per 100 km.
Original languageEnglish
Pages805-814
Number of pages10
Publication statusPublished - 11 Oct 2016
Event25th Aachen Colloquium Automobile and Engine Technology 2016 - Eurogress Aachen, Aachen, Germany
Duration: 10 Oct 201612 Oct 2016

Conference

Conference25th Aachen Colloquium Automobile and Engine Technology 2016
Country/TerritoryGermany
CityAachen
Period10/10/1612/10/16

Keywords

  • air drag
  • truck
  • variable roof geometry

Fields of Expertise

  • Mobility & Production

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