New trailer cuts fuel consumption by 6-8%

Last week saw the launch
by Barloworld Logistics of
its new Green Trailer, an
interlink taut liner trailer
combination that will
reduce fuel consumption
by 6-8% over the next
six months, according
to Barloworld Logistics
divisional director Francois
van Rensburg.
“In the South African
context, transport
is responsible for
approximately 13% (CSIR
study) of South Africa’s
total greenhouse gas
emissions. The research
for the green trailer was
conducted on the N3
between Johannesburg and
Durban where vehicles do
a round trip of 1 160 km
on a dedicated route every
24 hours and 98% of the
route is on the N3 and N2,”
Van Rensburg told FTW
at the official launch in
Johannesburg.
“This means that
the vehicles maintain
a much more constant
speed compared to those
operating on secondary
roads or in urban areas.
This also means that the
effects of wind resistance
are higher than on any
other route.”
Initial research in the UK
revealed that a fuel saving
of 20.4% could be achieved
by a curtainsider teardrop
rigid travelling at a constant
speed of 80 km/h. A saving
of 10.1% could be achieved
by a curtainsider semitrailer
that was travelling at
63 km/h.
The initial simulations
based on the green trailer
research have shown that
once all these changes
were made there was a
35% reduction in the total
drag when travelling at a
constant speed between
70 and 80 km/h.
The primary research
was done by the CSIR,
and the design by
Barloworld Logistics. The
aerodynamic changes were
built by Afrit, which was
responsible for structural
changes, and Aerotruck, which manufactured all the
aerodynamic components.
“All changes that we
made to the green trailer
are within the bounds of
current legislation,” said
Van Rensburg.
The reduced fuel
consumption is however
unlikely to result in
reduced freight rates – the
benefits to the customer
will be in reduced
carbon emissions, while
the savings achieved in
fuel consumption will
compensate for research
and development costs.