Only one truck large tonnage can spend more than 47,000 euros per year on fuel: it is the higher mileage expense that transport companies assume, far exceeding that of allowances, changing tires or repairs and maintenance.
Aerodynamics also matter on these already low-aerodynamic road giants. Not so that they reach their destination faster, but to save fuel and therefore costs. Thus, for these road giants, there are also accessories that help reduce your wind resistance.
Lower fuel consumption, lower costs
According to the calculations of the latest Observatory of Costs of Transport of Goods by Road published by the Ministry of Transport, a 15-ton articulated truck consumes an average of about 35 l/100 km. Traveling 120,000 km a year, Your fuel expense is set at almost 47,500 euros.
Now let’s add several trucks to the equation. If, for example, there are 10 trucks, we will talk about 475,000 euros per year just in fuel for the fleet of a transporter or company. These expenses are also reflected in the price of the transported products. Hence If the price of fuel goes up, so can the price of the products they transport..
Like in Formula 1, but on the road. This is precisely the claim of the companies that design and sell this type of aerodynamic elements for trucks. Mostly for towing, since The cabins are designed to offer the least possible resistance. Although in this aspect they have not evolved much.
The most striking, and which its creators point out as one of the most effective in reducing fuel consumption, is the ‘UnderTray’ the Smart Truck: a kind of inverted spoiler that looks like a slide.
This element minimizes air flow in the high underbody of the trailer, helping to neutralize resistance on the rear wheels. What it does is disperse the air that sneaks into this area and away from the rear axle, towards the outside. But it also has other advantages, or at least that’s what they promise, such as reducing brake overheating.
The ‘UnderTray’ can be combined with other elements most common and offered by other companies such as Transtex: roof spoilers for the box, side deflectors or a rear diffuser also for the underbody. And other options are spoilers for the cabin or rigid skirts, which also help minimize air flow under the truck.
Depending on how they are combined, they ensure a fuel savings of 5% to 10%. It may not seem like much when we talk about cars that consume 30 or 40 liters per 100 km, but if they travel thousands of kilometers a year the savings can be notable. Even more so if we talk about companies with several fleet trucks.
The Edge Elite Aero System kit from Transtex.
Is it worth the investment? Whether or not it is worth installing these devices will depend on many variables: how many kilometers are traveled, the number of trucks or the type of vehicle itself.
Smart Truck ensures that placing them is simple and that they do not affect the structure of the truck or trailer. They promise that they can be installed in less than two hours in full. Furthermore, for example, the ‘UnderTray’ does not have to be dismantled for inspections or maintenance tasks.
Although the price of Smart Truck kits are not indicated on the website from one of the companies that distribute them, those of other brands such as Aerodymaxwhich include the rear deflectors or the side skirts for the underbody, start in 1.500 euros. And for example el AeroFender de FlowBelowwhich also minimizes the air resistance of the wheels, have a price of about 490 euros. In any case, it is one more investment to save in the long term.
At the moment in Europe these aerodynamic elements are not well known and it is rare to see them on the road. But in countries like the US, more and more carriers are turning to them.
Source: www.motorpasion.com
