AirFlow BulletTruck Project (aerodynamic, modified Class 8 transport doubles MPG)

[Shepherd777]

Originally Posted by stillsearching

My understanding is that air drag is 50-65% of the load of a typical semi at highway speeds. Mathematically that would tell me that your truck has 0 drag since its twice the mileage. >_>

Zero drag is only possible in outer space, where there is no atmosphere.
And we cannot afford the toll road to get up there.

Aerodynamics are only part of the fuel efficiency puzzle.

We get twice the mileage because:

• We do have the best Class 8 aerodynamics in the world.

• We have removed many engine and tire parasitic losses.

• We use race car type tweaks for efficiency, not speed.

• We (almost) never idle.

• We operate between 1100-1250 rpm all day long and cruise 55 mph @ 1225 rpm.

• We have the best engine performance driver info feedback display.

• We take a software snapshot of engine performance every 60 seconds.

• We don't drive it like an idiot. Most everybody else, does.

[JethroBodine]

Hey Shepherd Been looking for you out on the highways. Different roads I guess I90/91 mostly. Home tomorrow.

[pete c]

When will we see some sort of convoy drafting technolgy used with OTR trailers. I would think it would be fairly simple to have such a system that used cameras and maybe sonar to allow rigs on the highway to draft extremely closely. Ideally you would want sleek nosed rigs as leads and flat nosed ones like old cabover style.

Such a system would actually increase safety as it would require only one attentive driver per convoy.

[Shepherd777]

Originally Posted by JethroBodine

Hey Shepherd Been looking for you out on the highways. Different roads I guess I90/91 mostly. Home tomorrow.

Hi JB -

We're on I-91 and even I-90 occasionally, but we usually head out of CT on I-84 to I-81 south or branch off at I-80 West.

We are currently just outside of St. Louis loading in the morning for PA. We came down here from Bloomington, IL this morning. It's 150 miles from Bloomington and my computer says we used exactly 9 gallons of diesel fuel for 16.6 mpg. We are empty.

We are always working on funding/investors for the new "scratch-built truck.

We have decided that the new truck will be electromotive power. A Cummins diesel engine powering a generator powering hub motors. No tranny or differential. Not a hybrid, no batteries. Batteries are not mature and cost too much, especially for a Class 8 truck. We are designing the truck with a battery bay so they will hopefully be plug-n-play when low (lower?) cost batteries become available.

[sheepdog 44]

Originally Posted by Shepherd777

Hi JB -

We're on I-91 and even I-90 occasionally, but we usually head out of CT on I-84 to I-81 south or branch off at I-80 West.

We have decided that the new truck will be electromotive power. A Cummins diesel engine powering a generator powering hub motors. No tranny or differential. Not a hybrid, no batteries. Batteries are not mature and cost too much, especially for a Class 8 truck.

WOW, that should be something! Years ahead of anybody else...

If you're ever going on I-90 through the MA NY border post a time a date, i'll read a good book on the side of the road waiting for something magnificent to drive by.

[gone-ot]

...looks like she'll "...part the air with greatest of ease, leaving behind just a whimper in the breeze!"

[JRMichler]

Originally Posted by Shepherd777

• We have removed many engine and tire parasitic losses.

• We use race car type tweaks for efficiency, not speed.

A thread about these would REALLY be appreciated.

[JRMichler]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

...looks like she'll "...part the air with greatest of ease, leaving behind just a whimper in the breeze!"

I can remember being picked up and tossed off to the side by by the bow wave around those flat front semis when the wind was right. I also remember that Greyhound busses had a very light bow wave. This was back in my hitchhiking days (early 70's).

[pete c]

Originally Posted by Shepherd777

Hi JB -
We have decided that the new truck will be electromotive power. A Cummins diesel engine powering a generator powering hub motors. No tranny or differential. Not a hybrid, no batteries. Batteries are not mature and cost too much, especially for a Class 8 truck. We are designing the truck with a battery bay so they will hopefully be plug-n-play when low (lower?) cost batteries become available.

What is the efficiency of spinning a generator to spin electric hubs? I would think it is considerably lower than a conventional drivetrain. Trains have done it for years, but, the reason is that no one can figure out how to build a beefy enough clutch.

I do think this idea can work as soon as battery technology gets to the point where it is practical. This would be a huge advantage in hilly areas. Just think of how many megawatts of power get turned into noise through jake brakes every day. Sure would be nice to turn it back into stored electrons for the next uphill.

[beatr911]

I gotta wonder. With the huge savings potential for freight companies, why aren't these technologies and driving techniques being used on a huge scale?

For just 3000 miles of driving at 14mpg vs 8mpg at $4/gal is $642 additional profit available. What am I missing? What reasons do companies have to spend these profits more wisely?

Just guessing. Is it delivery speed? Driver labor costs? Inability to incentivize the drivers to not drive like idiots? What?