Transport Partnership
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
          Energy &
       Fuel Savings
     Aerodynamic Long Haul
       Combination Truck
                         \
         Gallons Saved

          1,651 gallons
          CO2 Savings
         16.7 Metric tons
         Increase in Fuel
           Economy
           NewMPG
        (original 6 mpg)

            6.6 mpg
       Fuel Cost Savings
                  Improved Aerodynamics
               A Glance at Clean Freight Strategies
   Using a streamlined-profile tractor with aerodynamic devices can improve
 fuel economy by over 3 percent and will reduce fuel costs by over $2,000. When
  adding an aerodynamic trailer, you can get up to an II percent increase in fuel
               economy, saving 16 metric tons of carbon dioxide.


What is the challenge?

  Aerodynamic drag (wind resistance) accounts for most truck energy losses at highway
  speeds. Reducing drag improves fuel efficiency. The longer the drive and the higher the
  speed, the greater the potential efficiency benefits become. Manufacturers have made signifi-
  cant progress over the past two decades in reducing the drag coefficient (a measure of wind
  resistance) of a typical freight truck from about 0.8 to about 0.65 - an improvement of nearly
  20 percent. Additional efforts to improve aerodynamics could result in a further 25 percent
  reduction in the drag. This could have a significant impact on fuel economy. For example,
  cutting drag by 20 percent could boost fuel economy up to 15 percent at highway speed.


What is the solution?

  A number of options exist to improve aerodynamics and improve fuel efficiency.

Tractor Aerodynamics
  Truck tractor aerodynamic options:
     Roof fairings (an integrated air deflector mounted on the top of the cab)
     Side extender fairings (to reduce the gap between the tractor and the trailer)
     Side tank fairings
     Aerodynamic front bumper (to reduce air flow beneath the truck).
     Aerodynamic mirrors

  Truck manufacturers offer aerodynamic models that include a streamlined front profile,
  sloped hood, and a full package of add-on devices. Selecting these features for a typical trac-
  tor model can improve fuel economy by over 3 percent. However when improving a classic
  combination truck with no aerodynamic features, one can  see up to a 15 percent increase in
  fuel economy.
             $6,276
                                 Q.
                                 
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Automatic Tire Inflation  Systems
      Trailer Aerodynamics
        Truck trailer aerodynamic options:
           Gap Reducer (these devices affixto the front of the trailerto minimize the gap between the tractor and trailer,
           minimizing air turbulence in turn)
           Side Skirts (these panels hang down from the sides of a trailer at the bottom edge to enclose the open space
           between the rear wheels of the tractor and the rear wheels of the trailer)
           Cargo Configuration (reduce drag by arranging cargo as low and smooth as possible)
           Wheelbase and fifth-wheel settings (positioning the trailer as close to the rear of the tractor as possible ton reduce
           tractor-trailer gap). For freight carried on flat bed trailers, securing loose tarpaulins and closing the curtains on
           curtain-sided trailers can improve fuel economy by up to 2.5 percent and 4.5 percent, respectively.

        Gap reducers that decrease the trailer gap from 45 to 25 inches can improve fuel economy as much as 2 percent. Ac-
        cording to the manufacturers, the addition of trailer side skirts can also improve fuel economy by up to 5 percent.

      Single Unit Truck Aerodynamics
        Single unit truck aerodynamic options
           Streamlined front profile with sloped hood to reduce drag
           Rounded air deflector can be added to van-style bodies to reduce drag

        When using rounded air deflectors, manufacturers claim fuel savings of up to 5 percent, which reduces annual fuel
        use by about 80 gallons and saves over $100 in fuel costs.  Single unit trucks with higher annual mileage could real-
        ize even larger benefits.
      Savings and  benefits
        An aerodynamic long-haul combination truck can realize a fuel economy increase of 11 percent, as compared to a
        typical long-haul combination truck. This would result in about 1,600 gallons saved, reducing fuel costs by over $6,000
        and saving 16 metric tons of carbon dioxide. A single unit aerodynamic truck improves fuel economy by 5 percent,
        saving 75 gallons and nearly 1 metric ton of carbon dioxide. The initial expense of installing aerodynamic features can
        be quickly recouped through fuel savings.
           Aerodynamic Trailer Annual Savings
                      Single Unit Truck Annual Sai/ings
          Fuel Economy Increase

          New MPG (original MPG of 6)
          Fuel Cost Saving
  3.6%        Fuel Economy Increase

6.2 mpg        New MPG (original MPG of 8.54)

              Gallons Saved

              CO Savings

 $2,200        Fuel Cost Saving
 8.97 mpg

76 gallons
                                                                                             0.76 metric tons
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      SmartWay Transport | EPA^120-FOO-036 | www.epa.gov/smartway |  734-214-4767 | smartway_transport@epa.gov

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