Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/201087
the vehicle's engine," says Natalie Melomed, senior business analyst for VorBlades. Air drag depends on the vehicle's shape and size, speed and weather conditions, Melomed says; it does not depend on load weight, tire style or type of engine or transmission. Melomed cites an example of an empty truck with no aerodynamic devices fitted. "Let's say, right out of the box, that truck is getting 8.5 miles per gallon," she says. "Now let's say after installing VorBlades aerodynamic devices, the vehicle mpg number increased to 8.8 mpg. But now add a payload of 45,000 pounds, and that number drops to 7.5 mpg without the device and 7.8 mpg with the VorBlades." Although the vehicle's overall drag was reduced, the powertrain has to work harder to move the heavier gross vehicle weight, Melomed says. The 0.3 mpg increase remains the same in both unloaded and loaded configurations, 36 Fleet Engineers' aerodynamic AeroSaver trailer side skirt is designed for either angled or straight installation and is made from recycled flexible plastic to bend over obstacles. but because the same force to overcome air drag is needed, the percentage of fuel savings is changed. More formulas Grossmann says using mpg is an excellent way to talk to drivers about the benefits of aerodynamic devices. Another COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | NOVEMBER 2013 formula ATDynamics uses is gallons saved per 1,000 miles driven. "This is a pretty simple calculation and often the easiest for fleets to make," he says. Take the number of miles a tractortrailer drives per year and divide by 1,000, then multiply by a TrailerTail's fuel savings number per 1,000 miles, which at 65 mph is 8 gallons. A vehicle running 60,000 miles annually will save 480 gallons of fuel a year – or about $1,920 in fuel costs, figuring fuel at $4 a gallon. Aerodynamics is not just for long-haul trucks, either. "I hear fleets tell me all the time they rarely run over 55 mph, so aerodynamic devices won't help – this is not the case," says Scarcelli, citing research that shows aerodynamic drag contributes to about 25 percent of the fuel consumption during an urban drive cycle versus 50 percent for long haul. "The ROI period will be longer for the urban cycles, but there is still a benefit," he says. Text INFO to 205-289-3554 or visit www.ccjdigital.com/info