Along the lines of what
Walmart is hoping to do with its truck fleet, manufacturer Renault recently gave a presentation on a truck it has modified to reduce fuel consumption by 13% through a combination of aero & drivetrain mods:
- increased leading edge radii
- boat-tailing panels on trailer
- slight arch on trailer roof
- trailer wheel skirts & side diffusers
- tightened/smoothed cab/trailer gap
- latest Michelin tires
- video cameras in place of large mirrors
- revised back axle ratio
- engine re-mapping to deliver a bit more torque lower down the rev range
- semi-synthetic engine oil
The "Big Lorry Blog" has a detailed piece about the truck, with lots of photos:
Renault Optifuel Lab offers 13% diesel fuel savings...Biglorryblog tells you all about the slippery Gallic streamliner! - BigLorryBlog