Wabco, a global supplier of technologies and services that improve the safety, efficiency and connectivity of commercial vehicles, recently held a WebEx press conference on the power of aerodynamics in the commercial vehicle industry. Wabco’s acquisition of Laydon Composites Ltd in April 2016 has allowed them to provide a full range of aerodynamic devices for commercial vehicles worldwide.
With stricter EPA standards and an increasing emphasis on fuel efficiency, aerodynamics is becoming an important means to improving vehicle efficiency. Jon Morrison, president of Wabco Americas, said, “More than 50 percent of the engine generated energy is lost due to aerodynamic drag. It’s surprising, the significant benefit that this technology can bring to the industry. Maybe counter to what you would think, the faster a vehicle drives, the more important aerodynamic force is. It’s really interesting how aerodynamic solutions are applied in order to help vehicles gain more fuel economy.”
Tractors and trailers are designed to be load efficient, not fuel efficient. “When the vehicle is driving on the highway, a lot of power is lost to aerodynamic drag, and the trailer is the main reason for that,” said Gandert Van Raemdonck, Research and Development Leader of Aerodynamics, Wabco. “Aerodynamics can drastically improve the fuel efficiency of vehicles.”
Aerodynamic devices help optimize the shape of commercial vehicles, reducing drag on the most inefficient areas of the trailer. There are four general areas where vehicles can improve aerodynamics:
- Tractor Cab: roof deflectors, side fenders.
- Gap area: nose fairing.
- Trailer underside: skirts.
- Back of the trailer: tails.
Wabco’s aerodynamic devices are made of thermos composites, glass fiber and polypropylene. They are low weight and highly durable, maintenance free and cost efficient, according to the company. Wabco has over 2,000 engineers in over 40 countries who are dedicated to continually improving vehicle efficiency. As new aerodynamic solutions are developed, they are tested using computer simulations, wind tunnel experiments and track testing. These methods give Wabco a better understanding of how each new solution will decrease drag on a trailer.
Aerodynamic solutions are not a recent development—the first deflectors on truck cabins were used as far back as the 1970s. But, not all fleets are currently using aerodynamic solutions. The current adoption rate of aerodynamic devices on trailers by major fleets is just over 50 percent. By 2018, the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Phase II will be in effect, increasing the demand for aerodynamic solutions. And, as more fleets adopt aerodynamic solutions for their vehicles, they will see an average fuel savings of about 250 gallons per trailer, per year and a payback of 16-18 months, according to Wabco.
In short, new U.S. regulations are driving aerodynamics growth. And, as fleets adopt new aerodynamic solutions, they will improve fuel use, decrease emissions and increase operational efficiency.
