Radical Aerodynamic Semi Truck With 0.29 Cd Offers Dramatic Fuel Savings

by Paul Niedermeyer

December 7th, 2009 11:23 AM

radical aerodynamic semi truck with 0 29 cd offers dramatic fuel savings

We’ve looked back at a boxy old International, so how about we gaze into the future? Aerodynamics is overarching key to improved transport fuel efficiency, since hybrid and other advance propulsion technologies have limited impact on long-haul trucks. This proposal by European truck maker MAN slips though the air with a 0.29 Cd (coefficient of drag), instead of the more typical 0.57 Cd. That represents a dramatic potential improvement in economy, but at the expense of an irregular-shaped cargo trailer. That’s going to be a big impediment to the trailer and cargo-handling standardization predominant in the industry. But it shows the potential available. More details on this and some early efforts at truck streamlining after the jump: Here’s the link to the full story and more pictures.

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Detroit-Iron on Dec 06, 2009

I would think that simply adding skirts to box in the wheels on the trailer would be an economical compromise. Added bonus-the potential for ground effects.

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Psarhjinian on Dec 07, 2009
Even if the reduction in drag could offset the reduction in carrying capacity, those things will never work because every warehouse in America is designed for a trailer with doors that swing open and flush with the side of the trailer. Just try finding a place to dock that at a Wal-Mart or Home Depot. It ain’t going to happen. If the trailer uses a semirigid fabric or segmented cone that could be pulled back or folded away, it could work.

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