Fuel efficiency gains for commercial vehicle hire fleets
Published by Joanna Simons
Greener commercial vehicle hire fleets are being developed by a research institution which is developing and testing devices to reduce aerodynamic drag.
Researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in the US are testing devices which may soon enable UK commercial vehicle hire fleets to reduce their fuel consumption, saving fleet solutions managers money and improving fuel efficiency.
The devices could increase fuel efficiency by up to 12 per cent and also cut back on carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere.
Pressure differences around commercial vehicle hire fleets cause aerodynamic drag. When travelling at motorway speeds, such vehicles use a large amount of fuel to overcome aerodynamic drag.
"And 12 per cent is just the beginning. We expect to increase that savings even more during the current series of wind tunnel tests," said Kambiz Salari, LLNL's lead scientist on the project.
Transport minister Lord Adonis recently announced his support for the Freight Transport Association's proposal for the recording of carbon emissions of commercial vehicle hire fleets in the logistics sector.
