Posts Tagged “fuel efficiency”
By Charlie Fabricant ALC Corporate
Although professional drivers have long recognized the importance of fuel efficiency, the growth of personal electric vehicles has introduced the general public to the concept of aerodynamic drag. A.K.A, the force caused by air when a moving object goes through it to slow it down. Measured in drag coefficient (Cd), the lower this number is, the less resistance an object faces when moving through wind.
As we recently saw in long-distance speed skating at the Winter Olympics, aerodynamic drag played a role in determining the gold, silver, and bronze winners. Just as humans are, vehicles are also affected by aerodynamics. Many new EVs brag about their extremely low drag coefficients (Cd), which hover around 0.2, and even the worst passenger EVs and electric pickups average around 0.35 Cd. However, even with the aerodynamic improvements manufacturers have made since it became a focus in the 1970s, class 8 tractor-trailers average around 0.65Cd. Now, I just threw some meaningless numbers at you, so let’s make this the fun kind of math, the type that saves you money (and carbon emissions).
Aerodynamic drag increases as the square of speed, meaning that as your speed doubles, your drag force increases by 4x (and the power required to move increases by 8x). All of this to say, aerodynamics play a critical role in fuel economy, and fighting drag accounts for approximately 65% of fuel consumption at highway speed. Now comes the previously-mentioned “fun” part. EPA’s SmartWay reports that a fully-optimized truck-trailer combo can achieve fuel reduction benefits up to 20% through a combination of largely low-cost aerodynamic upgrades. Not only that, but as these technologies have matured, the barrier to entry has dropped; roof fairings, gap reducers, and trailer side skirts are now estimated to pay themselves off within 12 months and offer up to 12% fuel efficiency improvements alone. Maintenance concerns have also been alleviated due to modern kits’ increased durability and flexibility. Obviously, the payback period is subject to local diesel prices and average driving speed, but with operational costs on the rise, where fuel represents 20-30% of total expenses, fuel efficiency improvements provide substantial savings even when diesel is “cheap.” Just to play with a little thought experiment (assuming $4 diesel), a long-haul truck running 110,000 miles a year will save approximately $4,000 – $6,000 in fuel costs for $5,000 in truck optimization, and remember, that upfront cost only exists for the first year. For a fleet of 10 trucks, that adds up to $50,000 straight to your bottom line every year after the first.
More so than we have seen in the previous few years, shippers are reprioritizing resilient business partners, as sustained tough conditions have caused many logistics companies to shutter in the post-COVID market. Additionally, ESG requirements continue to expand. With new regulations like California’s SB 253 requiring large organizations to report their entire value chain’s carbon footprint, carriers with high-efficiency equipment aren’t just saving money; they are becoming the ‘preferred capacity’ for the nation’s largest shippers. Aerodynamic upgrades provide an opportunity to combat rising operational costs while future-proofing equipment to meet ever-expanding emissions standards. If you’re a shipper looking for low-cost ways to improve your sustainability ratings or a carrier looking to optimize your margins and thrive in the years ahead, aerodynamic upgrades may be for you!
*****
Charlie Fabricant graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2021 with a double major in Economics and Human & Organizational Development with a minor in Environmental Sustainability. He joined the Nashville office as an undergraduate intern in 2021 and became a transportation broker along with the company’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) coordinator. In 2024, he was promoted to ESG programs manager.
charlie.fabricant@allenlund.co
*****
ALLEN LUND COMPANY, TRANSPORTATION BROKERS, LOOKING FOR REEFER CARRIERS: 1-800-404-5863.
ATHENS, GA – Helping to provide increasingly sustainable choices in transport refrigeration, Carrier Transicold is introducing four new premium performance trailer refrigeration units that offer double-digit fuel efficiency improvements and lifetime compliance with emissions requirements of the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
ATHENS, GA – Helping to provide increasingly sustainable choices in transport refrigeration, Carrier Transicold is introducing four new premium performance trailer refrigeration units that offer double-digit fuel efficiency improvements and lifetime compliance with emissions requirements of the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Carrier Transicold is a part of Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR), the leading global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold chain solutions.
The new systems include two single-temperature units, the Vector™ 8700 and X4™ 7700, and two multi-temperature units, the Vector 8800MT and Vector 8811MT. All reduce particulate emissions by 96% compared to current offerings and, depending on the application, improve fuel efficiency from 5%−20%.
“Whether interested in boosting fuel efficiency, seeking compliance with stricter emissions regulations or both, North America’s trucking fleets will soon have four new options,” said Steven McDonald, Trailer Product Manager, Truck Trailer Americas, Carrier Transicold. “The units will be available for order later this year for delivery in 2023, especially helping fleets operating in California that will be adding units next year and will be subject to CARB’s newly amended Airborne Toxic Control Measure (ATCM) for Transport Refrigeration Units (TRUs).”
The new units take advantage of an advanced version of the proven Kubota engine used throughout Carrier Transicold’s existing trailer platforms. Among its attributes, the new 24-horsepower smart engine:
- Features clean engine technologies,including common-rail fuel injection, an enhanced fuel filtration system and diesel oxidation catalyst that push particulate, hydrocarbon and NOx emissions to new lows.
- Provides lifetime regulatory compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Tier 4 emission standards and CARB’s stricter ATCM for TRUs that takes effect May 31, 2023.
- Achieves double-digit fuel economy thanks to optimized fuel-delivery from common rail fuel injection and the introduction of a third engine speed, called“eco speed,” that automatically drops engine RPMs below low speed when conditions permit, to help boost fuel efficiency.
“Unlike some competitive trailer refrigeration systems, our premium performance units do not require complex exhaust gas recirculation to achieve emissions targets,” said McDonald, adding, “Unlimited CARB compliance means no add-on exhaust treatments are ever required, based on the current regulation.”
All four models also use R‑452A, a CARB-compliant, new-generation refrigerant with a global warming potential 45% lower than that of the traditional TRU refrigerant, R‑404A. Additionally, all are equipped with Carrier Transicold’s industry-leading telematics solution for remote monitoring of temperatures, location, movement and system operating performance. To help maintain battery charge supporting the unit and its telematics system, Carrier Transicold now also offers its TRU-Mount solar panel as a
The dramatic Mount Kidd, Canadian Rockies
ATHENS, GA — Carrier Transicold will begin offering the new-generation refrigerant R-452A as an alternative for use in its truck and trailer refrigeration systems, following the July 21 announcement that the Environmental Protection Agency has approved the refrigerant for transport refrigeration applications.
Developed by the refrigerant manufacturing industry to reduce environmental impact, R-452A has a global warming potential (GWP) that is almost half that of R 404A, the hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerant used in most land-based transport refrigeration applications. Carrier Transicold will offer the new refrigerant as an option to R-404A later this year.
“As a near drop-in substitute, R-452A offers similar levels of refrigeration performance, fuel efficiency, reliability and refrigerant charge in new equipment as R 404A, and we are pleased to be able to make it available to refrigerated transport operators seeking a lower GWP option to advance environmental sustainability,” said David Brondum, director, product management and sustainability, North America Truck, Trailer, Rail, Carrier Transicold.
R-452A is a refrigerant blend with a low-GWP hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) as one of its key components.
“Carrier Transicold has extensive experience with R-452A, having first offered it in 2015 to help Europe’s transport refrigeration industry respond to the European Union F Gas Regulation, which is driving down Europe’s use of traditional HFC refrigerants with higher GWPs,” Brondum explained. Extensive work has been done by Carrier Transicold in preparation for a similar transition in the U.S.
Brondum noted that the EPA has not banned R-404A for transport refrigeration applications, enabling refrigerated haulers to choose the option best suited for their operations. This allows for considerations of price and availability, fleet size and maintenance budgets.
“Going forward, fleets may want to consult with their Carrier Transicold dealers to determine which refrigerant solution is appropriate,” Brondum said.
While Carrier Transicold will continue to offer R-404A, it will also provide R-452A as an option for new model Vector™ and X4™ Series trailer refrigeration units, Supra® truck units and direct-drive truck units that currently use R 404A. The new refrigerant can also be used as a drop-in replacement for Carrier Transicold units already in service, although certain older models may require component retrofits or software updates, which can be accommodated through Carrier Transicold’s network of authorized dealers.
“Carrier Transicold’s larger goal of reducing the GWP of its transport refrigeration equipment goes well beyond the benefits of R-452A,” Brondum noted. “We are committed to pursuing the commercialization of HFC-free refrigerants in road transportation refrigeration by building upon our expertise with CO2 refrigerant, also known as R-744.”
CO2 refrigerant has a GWP of only 1, roughly 2,000 times better than R 452A and 4,000 times better than R-404A. It is also nonflammable, non-ozone-depleting, globally available and cost effective. Carrier has successfully applied CO2 refrigerant in CO2OLtec® stationary commercial refrigeration systems widely used throughout Europe, in NaturaLINE® container refrigeration systems used by major container shipping lines in support of global commerce, and prototype trailer refrigeration trials with two major European supermarket chains.
For more information about R-452A for transport refrigeration applications, turn to the experts within Carrier Transicold’s North America dealer network.
About Carrier Transicold
Carrier Transicold helps improve transport and shipping of temperature controlled cargoes with a complete line of equipment and services for refrigerated transport and cold chain visibility. For more than 45 years, Carrier Transicold has been an industry leader, providing customers around the world with advanced, energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable container refrigeration systems and generator sets, direct-drive and diesel truck units, and trailer refrigeration systems. Carrier Transicold is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp., a leading provider to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide. For more information, visit www.transicold.carrier.com. Follow Carrier on Twitter: @SmartColdChain.