. "Appendix F: Details of Aerodynamic Trailer Device Technology." Technologies and Approaches to Reducing the Fuel Consumption of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2010.
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Technologies and Approaches to Reducing the Fuel Consumption of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles
F Details of Aerodynamic Trailer Device Technology
Tables F-1 through F-3 report results from a collection of suppliers that provided trailer aerodynamic device results in more detail for trailer skirts, trailer base devices, and trailer face devices, three of the areas identified in Figure 5-9 (Chapter 5) as prime for aerodynamic device improvement in tractor-trailer combination trucks. These data are principally those returned by nine manufacturers responding to a committee questionnaire. Those responses were supplemented by information from the Web sites of four other manufacturers.
Interestingly, these most recent data on reduction of fuel consumption received from developers/manufacturers for trailer skirts (Table F-1) substantially group around 7 percent.
TABLE F-1 Trailer Skirt Information from Manufacturers
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Technologies and Approaches to Reducing the Fuel Consumption of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles
F
Details of Aerodynamic Trailer Device Technology
Tables F-1 through F-3 report results from a collection of suppliers that provided trailer aerodynamic device results in more detail for trailer skirts, trailer base devices, and trailer face devices, three of the areas identified in Figure 5-9 (Chapter 5) as prime for aerodynamic device improvement in tractor-trailer combination trucks. These data are principally those returned by nine manufacturers responding to a committee questionnaire. Those responses were supplemented by information from the Web sites of four other manufacturers.
Interestingly, these most recent data on reduction of fuel consumption received from developers/manufacturers for trailer skirts (Table F-1) substantially group around 7 percent.
TABLE F-1 Trailer Skirt Information from Manufacturers
Item
Manufacturer
Qualified for SmartWay (Y/N)
Fuel Consumption Reduction (gal/mile) (%)
Evaluation Method (provide details)
Weight to Equip 53-ft Trailer, (lb)
Retail Price Equivalent for One Trailer (US$)
Estimated Annual Maintenance Cost (USD)
Other Useful Information
1
Laydon
Y
6
J1321
300
1,900
0
Very flexible meeting systems
2
FreightWing
Y
7
J1321, 62 mph
160
1,599
$50
Impact resistant; small road clearance
3
AdamWorks
Y
7
self truck test
<200
2,400
$400
Automatically deploys to 6-inch ground clearance
4
TransTexa
a
7.4
J1321, 61 mph
a
a
a
a
5
Windynea
Y
6.9
J1321
a
a
a
Improved handling in side winds
6
ATDynamics
Y
7.4
J1321, 60 mph
175
2,200
0
Reduced road spray, 5-year warranty
7
Wabash
Y
5.6
J1321, 65 mph
250
1,625
0
12-inch ground clearance
aCommittee questionnaire not responded to.
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Technologies and Approaches to Reducing the Fuel Consumption of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles
TABLE F-2 Trailer Base Device Information from Manufacturers
Item
Manufacturer
Qualified for SmartWay (Y/N)
Fuel Consumption Reduction (gal/mile) (%)
Evaluation Method
Weight to Equip 53-ft Trailer (lb)
Retail Price Equivalent for One Trailer (US$)
Estimated Annual Maintenance Cost (US%)
Other Useful Information
1
ATDynamics boat tail
Y
5.1
J1321, 62 mph
175
2,800
0
Folds flat in 6 sec; improves stability
2
AeroTrailerSysa inflatable tail
a
3
a
a
a
a
Automatically deploys
3
TransTexa boat tail
a
2.9
a
a
a
a
Reduces road spray
4
AirTab vortex generators
N
2-3
Truck test, 47 mph
1
220
0
Reduces road spray
aCommittee questionnaire not responded to.
SOURCE: Data from responses to committee questionnaire and from manufacturers’ websites.
TABLE F-3 Trailer Face Device Information from Manufacturers
Item
Manufacturer
Qualified for SmartWay (Y/N)
Fuel Consumption Reduction (gal/mile) (%)
Evaluation Method
Weight to Equip 53-ft Trailer (lb)
Retail Price Equivalent for One Trailer (US$)
Estimated Annual Maintenance Cost (USD)
Other Useful Information
1
Laydon Vortex Stabilizer
N
1
J1321
40
495
0
Better performance in yaw
2
Laydon Nose Fairing
Y
2
J1321
95
795
0
No tractor interference
3
FreightWing Gap Fairing
Y
2
J1321, 65 mph
75
849
$50
Better performance with low aerodynamic tractor
4
NoseCone Eyebrow
Y?
>3
J1321?
30
—
—
For high tractor roof fairing
5
NoseCone
Y?
>4
J1321?
75
1,264
$35
No yaw effect in J1321
