MERCEDES-BENZ UNVEILS THE "AERO TRAILER," AN NEW AERODYNAMIC SEMI-TRAILER WITH CURVES

Current batteries lack the oomph to power our freight-hauling needs. In the meantime, we have to squeeze every last drop of fuel we can out of them. These sexy new trucks should help.

The Nissan Leaf is great, but the sad reality is that we’re still many years away from electric vehicles replacing a significant percentage of our cars and trucks. Battery costs are high and ranges are comparatively short. Those problems are even more salient for semi-trailers, which need to carry heavy loads long distances. Our current batteries just aren’t going to cut it.

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But until they can, we can still make improvements to the semis we have. At this year’sTrailer 2011 exhibition (yes, it’s a trade expo for trailers), Mercedes-Benz is presenting a design study for a new aerodynamic trailer that reduces wind resistance by as much as 18% as compared to their existing Actros trailer.

The “Aero Trailer” sports a number of small design improvements that allow it to cut through the air more easily. The two most significant features are those side trim panels, which reduce resistance by 8%, and the tapered rear end, which contributes another 7% reduction.

The “Aero Trailer” is still just a design concept, but Mercedes says its features would result in a 5% fuel savings. That might not sound like a lot, but a truck that travels 93,000 miles in a year would save 528 gallons of diesel fuel and five tons of carbon dioxide.

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And freight trucks rack up a lot of miles in United States. According to the Department of Transportation, in 1997 approximately 21 million trucks traveled more than 412 billion miles in the United States. The DOT estimates the volume of freight will rise by 70% by 2020.

Wind resistance improvements are not going to stave off climate change by themselves, but they’re certainly a step in the right direction, given that we’re stuck moving a certain amount of stuff with these trailers for the foreseeable future.

If you’re curious, by the way, electric (and hydrogen) freight trucks do exist. The Port of Los Angeles has been experimenting with them since 2008. They just can’t go very far.

COMMENTARY:   That's one cool freight truck and trailer rig.   I was texting a truck driving friend of mine, and he was saying it costs about $800 to $1000 to fill the gas tanks of his rig.   Still, I think you need double-digit cost savings if you are going to attrack buyers.  Save a truck driver 3,000 gallons of fuel, and I think you got them. 

Courtesy of an article dated December 10, 2011 appearing in Fast Company Design

 

Comments

[Jimmy John]

Well worth to read this article, thanks for sharing this information. With this article you offered me got a chance to know about this, anyway i say Great Article!

[Bernadine Koster]

Mercedes Benz proved they can make a truck as beautiful and sophisticated as their renowned luxury cars. But for me, the most wonderful feature of this truck is its ability to reduce fuel consumption, which can also result to less carbon emissions. I hope Mercedes can have the chance to release this in the market immediately, so trucks can do their share in helping the environment.

[Adam]

Mercedes rocks, this is beautiful.

[Drop Suspension]

Me too. Their trucks are classy aren't they?

[Trucking Factoring]

Wow, Bmw is always up to something that I really think about. This vehicle is so magnificent.

[Truck Lowering Suspension Parts]

Wow, Mercedes is always up to something that I really think about. This truck is so luxurious.

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Great post i like it:-)

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Wow Seems like a big house in a truck awesome.

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Wow what a great trailer really good looking great.

[Patrick Gauer]

Hmmm... this is one huge truck. If I had a trucking business, I'd surely purchase this one. Well, you can't really go wrong with picking a Benz. Yeah?

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Mercedes Benz will always be my favorite brand of car! :)

[mary lopez]

Wow, had no idea Mercedes also designed trucks that looked like buses. Must say, if the vehicle has the Mercedes tag on it, it cannot go wrong!