

Big rigs need to cut fuel consumption up to 23%









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RE: todays laugh
By MrTeal on 8/9/2011 6:52:28 PM , Rating: 2
*shrug* Then pick some other vehicle. I was just making the comparison to show how close a semi is to the consumer vehicle space. Most people seem to think that a semi should have fuel economy proportional to it's load and that a big truck probably gets under a mile per gallon. That's not the case.

RE: todays laugh
By titanmiller on 8/9/2011 9:16:10 PM , Rating: 2
Going up a mountain pass they probably do get about a mile per gallon, but you are right, on the flats they get on the order of 5-6mpg or even up to 10+ with a tailwind.

RE: todays laugh
By tastyratz on 8/11/2011 3:44:30 PM , Rating: 2
I'm glad you enlightened, I was one of those people.

It is interesting how they think something like economy can be legislated out of thin air. Aerodynamics certainly play a role and big rigs now make as much aerodynamic sense as a high speed pug on the salt flats... but aero will only take you so far. A big rig with a sleek long nose aerodynamic to its size will be increasingly un-maneuverable (think taking wide turns) and have poorer visibility up close (think kids crossing the road or just the car in front, etc).
The load probably matters just as much and is equally variable as well. Big rigs don't always pull just your standard box behind them and the trailers could use some efficiency rehauls just as much.

