|
The Flow below looks to be simple aero aids around the rear wheels on the tractor..
I am looking to put a higher level of aero..roughly similar to whats on the bullet truck. However it will be designed in such a fashion to allow the aero to "tilt" upwards to allow easy access to changing wheels..
I am also partway through a hood redesign..looks like the hood line can be turned into a fairly massive slope if the radiator is redesigned. Keeping the "front" of the truck looking like a Kenworth T680 , but with the radiator grill being around 2" LOWER than the top of the fenders...instead of on the T680 it is around 2" higher.. should make a significant difference. Will require a dual pass radiator and new fan design..changing from a 1.4m h x 1.25m w x .09m d radiator to approx 0.8m h x 1.5m w x 0.13m d radiator in dual pass.
Replacing mirrors on the old units, with more aero models (Probably from a modern kenworth), removing exhaust stacks and venting below the truck, full side skirts of the truck over the tanks (Using existing steps with simple brush curtains to allow easy ingress (Similar to brushes inside wheel arches), aero mudflaps, modern bumper design, removal of external air intakes, removal of sun visor (Replace with window tint on top edge!), removal of external air horns on roofline, changing running lights to more aerodynamic LEDs, full side skirts on trailers, and vortex generators on tractor and trailer, and wheel / axle alignments (already happening)
Combined with Water Injection, Plazma reformation Hydrogen generation and injection (Look it up kiddies and be amazed...), and some engine tuning..not to forget the driver monitoring and re-education (We are installing telemetry to monitor carefully, advising of overspeed and also harsh driving (braking / acceleration / cornering etc). We will also be introducing a "carrot" to the drivers to reward the top drivers on a monthly basis..and conversely..discover the horrid drivers and quietly "re-educate them"
Hopefully it will take our trucks on our roads (600HP towing B-Double trailers with a LOT of weight, on Aussie roads which I am afraid are not as nice as that mirror smooth blacktop you guys get!) from 2kms/litre (~5mpg) --> around 5kms/litre - 12mpg..
Simple maths on the above if it can be achieved..
$1.10 per litre for diesel here atm..
250,000kms per year on a truck..
= $137500 per year just on fuel..currently
compared to $55,000 per year on fuel if it works out...per truck..saving $87,500 per year..
If the above list of works costs me $50,000 to setup per truck (I estimate closer to $35000), we are looking at 6.5 months payback...
This has not taken into account the other savings we would also obtain..such as -
Reduced oil consumption / change required (Engines running cooler with less drag / WI and Hydrogen both reduce PM , so less contamination)
Reduced servicing costs.
Reduced tyre wear (Crosswind effect reduced so less scrubbing)
reduced emissions (Not a financial impact..but still to be considered)
Advertising - if you have a super green fleet, you get more business..
longer engine life (Less stress, less contamination internally, far less carbon buildup)
Looking at it more pessimistically..
Even if I can only net a 25% improvement..going from 2km/litre to 2.5km/litre..(Which should be a walk in the park) it will still save $27,500 per year on fuel alone..which will give me a payback of 1.5 years approx..and a lot of the tech will be transferable to the next truck at end of life..
|