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Back in the day, semi-trucks would get 2 to 3 MPG. These days they achieve around 7 to 8 MPG in test environments, with 6 MPG being the average in reality.
Based on a 100 mile distance, the difference between 3 MPG and 8 MPG is 20.8 gallons! This would equate to a Boeing 747 flying for 20 seconds!
Improving Efficiency – Companies are tirelessly attempting to increase the efficiency with turbocharging, front aerodynamics, rear aerodynamics, and transmissions.
Gap Enclosure: reduces aerodynamic drag in the gap between the tractor and trailer.
Side Skirts: improves aerodynamics and reduces airflow under the trailer in crosswinds.
Side Mirror Design: reconfigures shape and support systems to reduce aerodynamic drag.
Boat Tails: tapers back of trailer to minimalize wake airflow
By improving the aerodynamics of a semi truck, the overall drag could be reduced by at least 23%.
If semi-trucks improved their efficiency by only 10% it would result in almost 1 billion gallons of fuel saved per year… 8 Times the amount spilled during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill … enough to fill over 1500 Olympic swimming pools … Or traveling around the world over 2000 times in a Prius (Over 50,000,000 miles saved!)
LEVELS OF DIESEL CONSUMPTION PER YEAR:
North America – Canada: 3,642,140 … US: 39,399,148
Middle East – Egypt: 1,632,319 … Iran: 4,181,051 … Saudi Arabia: 3,103,229 … Turkey: 988,951
Central America – Mexico: 3,635,007
South America – Argentina: 1,945,362 … Brazil: 7,716,993 … Chile: 964,756
Australasia – Australia: 2,224,857 … New Zealand: 515,135
Europe – Italy: 6,657,135 … France: 8,788,475 … Belgium: 1,858,450 … United Kingdom: 6,110,827 … Spain: 7,379,910 … Russian Federation: 3,937,748
Asia – China: 13,696,000 … India: 6,400,096 … Indonesia: 2,951,066 … Japan: 8,140,990 … South Korea: 4,320,005 … Thailand: 3,654,292 … Pakistan: 1,936,381
Based on a 100 mile distance, the difference between 3 MPG and 8 MPG is 20.8 gallons! This would equate to a Boeing 747 flying for 20 seconds!
Improving Efficiency – Companies are tirelessly attempting to increase the efficiency with turbocharging, front aerodynamics, rear aerodynamics, and transmissions.
Gap Enclosure: reduces aerodynamic drag in the gap between the tractor and trailer.
Side Skirts: improves aerodynamics and reduces airflow under the trailer in crosswinds.
Side Mirror Design: reconfigures shape and support systems to reduce aerodynamic drag.
Boat Tails: tapers back of trailer to minimalize wake airflow
By improving the aerodynamics of a semi truck, the overall drag could be reduced by at least 23%.
If semi-trucks improved their efficiency by only 10% it would result in almost 1 billion gallons of fuel saved per year… 8 Times the amount spilled during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill … enough to fill over 1500 Olympic swimming pools … Or traveling around the world over 2000 times in a Prius (Over 50,000,000 miles saved!)
LEVELS OF DIESEL CONSUMPTION PER YEAR:
North America – Canada: 3,642,140 … US: 39,399,148
Middle East – Egypt: 1,632,319 … Iran: 4,181,051 … Saudi Arabia: 3,103,229 … Turkey: 988,951
Central America – Mexico: 3,635,007
South America – Argentina: 1,945,362 … Brazil: 7,716,993 … Chile: 964,756
Australasia – Australia: 2,224,857 … New Zealand: 515,135
Europe – Italy: 6,657,135 … France: 8,788,475 … Belgium: 1,858,450 … United Kingdom: 6,110,827 … Spain: 7,379,910 … Russian Federation: 3,937,748
Asia – China: 13,696,000 … India: 6,400,096 … Indonesia: 2,951,066 … Japan: 8,140,990 … South Korea: 4,320,005 … Thailand: 3,654,292 … Pakistan: 1,936,381
By Samuel Barradas.
If we converted our trucks to run on biodesil and put lithium ion batteries in them that are charged in part by the energy produced by the biodesil like the Ford Escape Hybrid. Use the roof of the trailer as a place to put our most efficient solar panels and cover them with a completely clear thin plastic or acrylic to prevent any damage. Put mini wind turbines on the back edge of the roof mounted on 4 ft long poles that can be put up to produce energy or down when going under low bridges. When you raise them they will create electricity using the aero dynamic drag. Together they could produce enough energy to run the truck on electricity for a decent distance. While saving fuel,money,shortening delivery times, helping the planet,and reducing our dependence on foreign oil.
Charles, you do realize that the energy produced with wind turbines equals the amount of energy required to drag them through the wind with you, right? In the end it comes out to zero at best, but probably you’re actually wasting energy on them due to friction.
The other factor is that your clearance for bridges is reduced (meaing your trucks heaight is taller now for equipment), your solar panels would be destroyed by debris while traveling at the typical highway speeds and the average cost of a rig would increase dramatically. This is just for starting out. Oh, and btw, the new regulations being inforced in some parts of the US will be decreasing fuel efficiency by 2%.